i  THE  FIVE 
^RANKFORTERS 

i  ROMANCE  OF  THE 
OUSEOF  ROTHSCHILD 

iCTINC  VERSION 


CARL     ROSSLER. 


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»4"M'4Hi.>a.»>4i<i.I..!.4i.t.H..I..I.4'^«»4'^'4'^ 

I: 


;: 


The  Five 
Frankforters 

Carl  Roessler 
J.  Fuchs 


With  a  Prcface  by  the  Translator 
"Concerning  the  Jews  ok  Frankfort* 


4i»4i»»».Hi»»».|i.|i».H.»».»»»»»»<i»».>.>.|i.|i.».i..|i»».|.».|i4i 

New  York 
THE  H.  K.  FLY  COMPANY 

Publishers 


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Copyright,    1918, 

By 

THE  H.    K.    FLY   COMPANY 


CHARACTERS 

Old  Dame  Gudula^  Arch-Mother  of  the  House  ftf  Rothschild 

Amschel 

Nathan 

Salomon      y  Her  sons 

Carl 

Jacob 

Charlotte,  daughter  of  Salomon 

Gustave,  Duke  of  Taunus 

Count-Palatine  Christopher  Maurice,  his  uncle 

Princess  Eveline,  daughter  of  the  Count-Palatine 

Prince  Klausthal-Agordo 

The  Princess 

Count  Fehrenberg,  Major-Domo  at  the  Court  of  Duke  Gus- 

tave 
Madam  de  St.  Georges 
Baron  Seulberg 
The  Canon 

Privy  Councillor  Yssel 
The  Duke's  Chamber-Valet 
Coust-Jeweler  Boel 

T  yyywp.    r  Domestics  in  Fran  Gudula's  house 


}- 


Goncemin^  the  tTe\^s  of 
Frankfort 


By  J.  FUCHS 

HERR  ROESSLER'S  idyll  of  the  Rothschilds,  now  first  made 
accessible  to  an  English-reading  public,  has  a  tragical  back- 
ground, like  every  true  comedy  as  distinguished  from  mere  farce. 
The  somber  setting  of  its  humors  is  the  ancient  Ghetto  of  Frank- 
fort and  the  history  of  those  who  lived  and  suffered  in  it  for  many 
generations.  Of  this  the  mise-en-scene  of  "The  Five  Frank- 
FORTERS^'  affords  a  palpable  hint:  the  window  of  Frau  Gudula's 
parlor  in  the  family  mansion  of  the  Rothschilds  discloses  a  view  of 
Jews'  Lane  with  its  cramped  and  squalid  misery.  For  a  proper 
appreciation,  on  the  part  of  the  uninitiated  reader,  of  the  motives 
and  soul-states  of  those  who  emerged  from  Jews'  Lane  into  the 
roomier  confinement  of  hostile  surroundings  without,  a  brief  sur- 
vey of  the  Frankfort  Ghetto  and  the  life  therein  is  indispensably 
necessary. 

I. 

Among  the  fifty-six  free  towns  of  the  Holy  Roman  Empire  that 
emerged  from  the  Westphalian  Peace  with  their  sovereign  liberties 
intact,  the  city  of  Frankfort-on-the-Main  was  easily  the  first  in 
civic  greatness,  abundant  wealth  and  historical  importance.  Like 
nearly  all  considerable  urban  centers  of  the  Rhinelands — like  the 

See  Notes,  page  2i. 


10    CONCERNING  THE  JEWS  OF  FRANKFORT. 

Jews  it  harbored — it  loved  to  trace  its  origin  to  Roman  coloniza- 
tion. And  like  its  lesser  neighbors  it  oppressed,  plundered,  perse- 
cuted and  insulted  its  Jews  throughout  the  Middle  Ages  with  an 
unrelenting  zeal,  which  among  the  Frankforters  was  still  alive  when 
it  had  calmed  down  or  died  away  in  most  other  communities  along 
the  Rhine  and  its  estuaries.  The  term  "Middle  Ages,"  in  Jewish 
reckoning,  has  a  topographical  significance  as  well  as  a  chronologi- 
cal one;  nor  does  it  in  point  of  time,  cover  the  same  extent  of  years 
as  in  ordinary  acceptance.  To  exemplify:  topographically,  the 
Middle  Ages  for  our  own  contemporaries  among  the  Jews  extend 
eastward  from  the  Vistula  and  to  the  south  from  the  straits  of 
Gibraltar.  Chronologically  speaking,  they  ended  for  the  commun- 
ity of  Frankfort  in  1864,  when  all  civic  restrictions  were  removed 
from  them,  after  a  contest  that  lasted  for  fifty  years  preceding 
their  final  emancipation. 

In  the  Middle  Ages  as  reckoned  by  common  tale  of  years,  the 
Jews  of  the  lower  and  middle  Rhine  held  their  rights,  properties 
and  lives  at  such  uncertain  tenure  that  their  refugees  from  Chris- 
tian persecution  have  peopled  the  Slavic  East  of  the  Continent, 
where  their  offspring  reside  unto  this  very  day.  Nor  is  their  seed 
unknown  in  America,  where  every  roster  of  notabilities  in  the  vari- 
ous trades  and  professions  of  the  country  abounds  with  names  of 
Rhenish  Jews. 

Of  those  who  stuck  fast  to  the  soil,  braving  death,  despoilment 
and  civic  humiliation,  the  Jews  of  Frankfort  were  the  most  ten- 
acious. There  was  a  reason.  Within  the  shelter  of  Frankfort's 
town  walls  they  had  a  better  chance,  despite  all  handicaps,  to  thrive 
in  the  only  pursuits  allowed  to  them  than  anywhere  else  on  German 
ground.  The  city  of  Frankfort-on-the-Main  has  been  known  all 
the  world  over  as  a  Continental  trading  center  of  the  first  import- 
ance from  the  middle  of  the  fifteenth  century  to  this  present  day. 
The  network  of  its  trade  relations  extended  to  London,  Amster- 
dam and  Venice — enormous  distances  in  a  steamless  age — a  gener- 
ation ere  Columbus  set  sail  for  the  New  World.  Early  allusions 
to  its  commercial  greatness  will  be  found  in  the  works  of  Aeneas 
Sylvius  and  of  Luther  as  well  as  in  Elizabethan  screeds  and  in  the 


CONCERNING  THE  JEWS  OF  FRANKFORT.     11 

writers  of  the  late  Italian  renascence.  With  the  fame  of  its  trad- 
ing the  name  of  its  Jews  was  coupled  from  the  beginning,  as  the 
most  cursory  examination  of  sixteenth  century  literature  will  re- 
veal. "Frankfort,"  declares  a  modern  German  economist,  ^"has 
always  been  the  classical  Jews'  Town  of  Grermany."  That  this 
must  have  been  for  centuries  the  unanimous  opinion  of  other  cities 
of  the  Roman  Empire  is  susceptible  of  documentary  proof.  In 
their  treatment  of  the  Jews  they  looked  to  Frankfort  for  guid- 
ance and  advice.  The  governments  of  Hesse,  Marburg,  Branden- 
burg and  Holstein,  the  archbishop  of  Mayence,  the  abbey  of  Fulda, 
and  the  cathedral  chapter  of  Bamberg,  the  municipalities  of  Burg- 
ham  (1509),  Epstein  (1612),  Freidberg  (1703),  Gelnhausen 
(1519),  Mergentheim  (1785),  Weikersheim  (1743),  Hamburg 
(1595,  1744),  Cleve  (1668),  Hannover  (1683),  and  Mannheim 
(1789),  as  well  as  many  other  cities  and  estates  of  the  realm  are 
on  record  as  having  elicited  legal  opinions  from  the  town  council 
of  Frankfort  concerning  urban  civil  law,  customary  or  written,  in 
regulation  of  matters  Jewish.^  Some  of  these  appeals  to  Frankfort 
custom  or  statute  emanated  from  the  Jewish  communities  of  other 
towns,  which  proves  that  the  "classical  Jews  Town"  was  consid- 
ered such  both  by  the  Jews  of  Germany  and  their  Teutonic  rulers 
from  the  Age  of  Reformation  to  a  time  almost  within  memory  of 
the  living.  That  a  race  excluded  during  seven  centuries  of  semi- 
outlawry  from  nearly  all  pursuits  save  commercial  ones  should 
have  gravitated  from  the  beginning  toward  an  early  center  of 
German  commerce  is  sufficiently  intelligible,^  That  they  adhered 
to  it  through  the  centuries  in  spite  of  crushing  taxation  and  re- 
turned to  it  twice  after  a  wholesale  expulsion,  would  be  little  short 
of  marvellous  but  for  their  peculiar  situation  all  through  the  Dark 
Ages,  in  Frankfort  and  elsewhere  within  the  Empire. 

II. 

To  understand  them  and  their  ways,  it  should  be  remembered 
first,  that  social  life  in  feudal  Europe  until  the  outbreak  of  the 
French  revolution  (and  for  some  time  thereafter)  knew  no  liberty 


12    CONCERNING  THE  JEWS  OF  FRANKFORT. 

— only  liberties.  All  rights  were  based  upon  privileges,  by  which 
all  social  activities  were  parcelled  out  and  fenced  in.  Every  estate 
of  the  Holy  Roman  Empire,  every  profession,  trade  or  handicraft 
had  its  own  set  of  qualifications  and  disqualifications,  its  own  courts 
of  first  or  second  instance,  subject  to  territorial  overlordship,  can- 
onical interference  or  imperial  prerogative.  Each  set  of  group 
rights  intersected  others  at  nearly  every  turn.  Often  enough  they 
abrogated  each  other  from  the  first  ex  vi  termini  or  subsequently  by 
force  of  unforeseen  and  unprovided-for  contingencies.  As  a  nat- 
ural consequence,  interminable  struggles  and  conflicts  of  jurisdic- 
tion ensued.  Within  the  larger  towns  of  the  Empire  there  was 
no  end  to  the  wrangles  over  disputed  professional  boundary-lines 
between  the  guilds  and  crafts.  In  Frankfort  and  elsewhere,  shoe- 
makers would  not  suffer  cobblers  to  make  shoes  as  well  as  mend 
them;  cordwainers  invoked  the  law  against  bootmakers  to  keep 
them  from  making  the  better  sorts  of  footwear;  there  was  a  bit- 
terly disputed  frontier  between  shoe-makers  and  shoe-sellers; 
menders  for  the  second-hand  trade  were  not  suffered  to  pretend  to 
the  name  of  cobblers;  in  all  German  trading  centers  of  any  con- 
siderable size  there  was  a  crop  of  Jarndyce  vs.  Jarndyce  cases 
arising  out  of  traders'  contentions  regarding  the  specialties  they 
were  allowed  to  handle  within  the  letter  of  their  parchments. 
There  was  a  good  deal  of  friction  between  the  guilds  of  Frank- 
fort-on-the-Main.  There  was  a  severe  and  long-continued  strug- 
gle going  on  between  the  guilds  considered  as  a  plebeian  unit  at 
the  bottom  and  the  wealthy  merchant  patricians  with  their  learned 
retainers  on  top  of  Frankfort  society.  Against  the  alien  of  their 
hatred  all  these  contending  forces  made  a  common  front,  as  far  as 
their  internal  dissensions  would  suffer  them.  In  fact,  whatever 
slender  security  the  Jews  enjoyed,  they  owed  partly  to  these  in- 
ternal dissensions  within  the  body  politic  of  Frankfort  and  partly 
to  the  resistance  of  the  town  against  the  perpetual  pretensions  of 
the  German  Emperors.  In  the  midst  of  never-ceasing  attempts  at 
exaction,  they  sometimes  appealed  to  the  Emperor  against  the  town, 
and  at  other  times  to  the  town  council  against  the  Emperor.  Both 
sides  looked  upon  them  as  a  first-rate  source  of  ready  money  in  case 


CONCERNING  THE  JEWS  OF  FRANKFORT.     13 

of  need.  Both  council  and  Emperor  had  therefore  a  certain  in- 
terest in  protecting  them  against  the  virulent  hatred  of  the  town 
guilds.  There  was  no  place  for  the  Jews  between  the  narrow, 
protected  fastnesses  of  a  guild  life  that  rejected  them.  They  were 
forbidden  to  own  landed  estate.*  No  reputable  handicraft  would 
apprentice  them  or  tolerate  their  competition.  The  profession 
of  arms  was  closed  to  them,  likewise  the  learned  callings.  To  make 
a  living,  nearly  all  Frankfort  Jews  engaged  in  bread-winning  pur- 
suits had  to  turn  to  commerce.  The  successful  minority  competed 
with  the  merchant  patricians  on  top.  The  wretchedly  poor  ma- 
jority, bent  upon  petty  pawn-broking  and  huckstering  of  second- 
hand goods,  collided  with  the  guilds  at  the  bottom. 

As  they  increased  in  numbers,  they  pressed  continually  against 
the  barriers  of  guild  law.  They  could  not  all  live  by  lending 
money  on  pledges,  most  of  them  having  little  or  none  to  lend. 
Those  that  dealt  in  second-hand  goods,  were  jealously  watched  by 
the  handicrafts.  Whenever  they  ventured  to  extend  the  range  of 
their  activities,  they  were  driven  in  by  the  trades  upon  whose  do- 
main they  trespassed.  The  shoes  they  bought  they  must  not  mend. 
They  were  forbidden  to  refit  old  clothes  to  suit  their  trade.  When 
they  bought  hides  or  pelts  to  cut  or  color  them,  they  were  pounced 
upon  by  the  furriers'  guild,  denounced  and  fined. ^  They  were  con- 
tinually harassed  by  the  jewelers  who  looked  with  an  evil  eye  upon 
their  trade  in  precious  stones.  A  certain  small  remnant  of  applied 
manual  skill  was  perforce  vouchsafed  to  the  Ghetto,  on  account 
of  religious  prohibitions.  There  had  to  be  a  few  Jewish  tailors, 
to  supply  the  faithful  with  garments  free  from  the  forbidden  mix- 
ture of  flax  and  woolen  (shatness).  There  had  to  be  Jewish  butch- 
ers 'to  insure  the  ritually  correct  slaughtering  of  the  meats  per- 
mitted to  sons  of  the  Covenant.  Phylacteries  and  prayer-shawls 
had  to  be  of  Jewish  workmanship.  These  butchers  and  tailors, 
these  leather-workers  and  embroiderers  were  a  constant  eyesore  to 
the  town  guilds.  The  butchers,  according  to  an  old  complaint,' 
were  "hideously"  {graesslich)  forestalling  the  market.  The  tail- 
ors were  accused  of  making  staple-goods  for  the  ready-to-wear 
trade — a  severe  offense  against  an  economic  system  that  frowned 


14    CONCERNING  THE  JEWS  OF  FRANKFORT. 

upon  wholesale  manufactories  of  any  kind  whatsoever.  The  stern 
determination  of  the  guilds  to  keep  the  Jews  within  prescribed 
bounds  was  an  inevitable  manifestation  of  the  feudal  spirit  among 
the  journeymen  and  master-mechanics  of  Frankfort-on-the-Main. 
If  Christian  bootmakers  would  riot  and  slay  rather  than  permit 
Christian  cobblers  to  make  boots  to  measure,  was  it  likely  that 
either  group  would  allow  Jewish  inroads,  in  an  age  when  "Chris- 
tian" and  "human,"  in  colloquial  parlance,  were  interchangeable 
terms?  ^ 

In  the  town  traffic  between  Jews  and  Christians  there  were  no 
points  of  contact  creative  of  good-will.  Every  point  of  contact  was 
at  the  same  time  a  point  of  friction.  Jews  and  Christians  did 
neither  work  nor  pray  together,  nor  sit  together  at  meat  or  drink. 
They  met  neither  at  public  rejoicings,^  nor  at  secret  haunts  of 
vice.^  Socially,  they  were  kept  apart  by  prejudice  and  tradition, 
by  civil  ordinance  and  religious  law.  When  they  met  in  the  way 
of  business,  it  was  mostly  at  occasions  of  distress :  pawnbrokers  met 
their  clients,  money-lenders  their  debtors,  buyers  of  second-hand 
goods  met  ruined  tradesmen  parting  with  their  household  goods. 
No  good-will  could  be  born  of  such  encounters.  And  thus  the 
tide  of  popular  hatred  kept  on  rising,  until  it  bore  down  at  times 
all  legal  barriers,  as  in  the  Frankfort  massacre  of  1349,  in  the  town 
riot  of  1616,  and  in  a  final  mob  insurrection  against  the  Jews  in 
August,  1819,  three  years  before  the  time  of  action  of  Herr  Roess- 
ler's  play. 

III. 

The  civic  status  of  the  Jews  of  Frankfort  was  primarily  defined 
by  a  law  of  the  realm.  During  the  Middle  Ages  the  Jews  of  Ger- 
many were  literally  the  fiscal  property  (Kammer-Knechte)  of  the 
German  Emperor.  "ludaei  ...  ad  cameram  nostram  pertineant,'* 
thus  Frederick  Barbarossa  laid  down  the  law  in  the  twelfth  cen- 
tury of  our  common  era.  To  the  communities  wherein  they  re- 
sided, they  stood  in  the  relation  of  tolerated  aliens,  subject  to  the 
special     police     regulations     {Juden-Ordnungen,     Juden-Staettig 


CONCERNING  THE  JEWS  OF  FRANKFORT.     15 

Keiten)  of  the  municipalities  that  sheltered  them.  As  serfs  of  the 
Emperor,  their  lives  and  chattels  were  under  his  especial  protec- 
tion. For  this  guardianship  they  paid  him  tutelary  fees  in  regular 
tolls  and  irregular  assessments.  If  the  Emperor's  protection  of 
life  and  limb  was  uncertain,  the  payment  part  of  the  compact  was 
not.  In  fact,  levies  upon  the  Jews  were  looked  upon  by  the  finan- 
ciers of  the  imperial  crown  of  Germany  in  a  light  similar  to  that 
in  which  hearth-money  was  considered  by  the  goldsmiths  of  Lon- 
don under  the  Stuarts.  They  were  at  all  times  reckoned  the  most  de- 
pendable regalia  of  the  Holy  Roman  Empire,  whose  overlords  more 
than  once  pawned  their  Jews  to  the  free  towns  in  times  of  financial 
embarrassment.  In  every  transaction  of  that  kind  the  Emperors 
were  reluctant  to  let  go  their  hold  upon  their  "chamber-serfs."  They 
never  relaxed  their  grip  upon  them  entirely,  always  reserving  the 
right  of  redemption,  of  appelate  jurisdiction  over  their  serfs,  and 
of  certain  customary  gifts  and  hereditary  taxes  exempted  by  speci- 
fication from  a  general  transfer  of  taxation  rights  from  the  Em- 
peror to  the  town.  As  will  be  seen  further  on,  in  the  case  of 
Frankfort,  they  were  not  content  with  the  privileges  secured  them 
by  express  reservation,  but  attempted  more  than  once  to  levy  upon 
the  Jews  under  pledge  to  the  town,  against  the  terms  of  the  bar- 
gain struck  between  the  high  contracting  parties  and  witnessed  by 
imperial  letters  patent.  Being  at  all  times  eager  to  re-assert  their 
rights  of  overlordship,  they  welcomed  Jewish  appeals  from  munici- 
pal decrees  to  imperial  placets  as  ready  pretexts  for  meddling.  And 
thus  another  paradox  arose  in  a  racial  history  rich  In  paradoxical 
situations :  the  same  avarice  that  heaped  grievous  burdens  upon  the 
Jews  rendered  their  persons  comparatively  safe  as  long  as  they 
were  content  to  stay  within  the  liberties  of  Frankfort. 

They  were  first  pledged  to  the  town  by  Emperor  Charles  the 
Fourth  of  the  House  of  Luxemburg  in  1349  for  a  subsidy  of 
15,200  pound  hellers,  with  the  privilege  of  redemption,  subject  to 
a  previous  mortgage  of  900  pound  hellers  per  annum  taken  over 
by  the  city  and  due  to  Gerlach,  Archbishop  of  Mayence,  who  ceded 
his  claim  to  Frankfort  upon  payment  in  fee  simple  of  7,500  florins 
in  1358.     By  way  of  prudent  after-thought,  the  Emperor  made 


16    CONCERNING  THE  JEWS  OF  FRANKFORT. 

daim  in  1360  to  a  half  share  in  the  revenues  drawn  from  Jews 
whose  settlement  in  town  postdated  the  original  pledge.  This  half 
share  he  pledged  in  turn  to  Frankfort  in  1372  for  the  sum  of  6,000 
florins,  pending  redemption.  Neither  the  first  nor  the  second 
pledge  were  ever  redeemed,  yet  his  successors  during  three  cen- 
turies considered  that  they  had  an  equity  in  the  Jews  of  Frankfort 
over  and  above  the  "coronation  gift"  and  the  annual  "sacrificial 
mite"  of  one  florin  per  head,  which  were  expressly  reserved  as 
crown  regalia  and  invariably  exacted  during  the  entire  existence 
of  the  Holy  Roman  Empire.  Though  Emperor  Sigismund  in 
1425  confirmed  the  town  by  letters  patent  in  its  domain  over  its 
Jews,  Maximilian,  in  1510,  attempted  a  big  levy,  threatening  the 
protesting  authorities  of  Frankfort  with  a  loss  of  municipal  privi- 
leges in  case  of  resistance.  His  fiscal  lost  in  a  law-suit  brought 
by  the  municipality  in  defense  of  its  exclusive  rights  to  levy  upon 
the  Jews,  which  did  not  deter  Ferdinand  II.,  during  the  Thirty 
Years  War,  to  essay  like  exactions  on  several  occasions.  Finally, 
in  1685,  Emperor  Leopold  demanded  from  the  Jewish  community 
of  Frankfort  100,000  florins  in  defrayment  of  expenses  incurred 
during  his  war  against  the  Turks.  The  magistrate  compromised 
upon  a  subsidy  of  20,000  florins,  paid  upon  His  Majesty's  solemn 
waiver,  in  his  own  name  and  that  of  his  successors,  of  the  redemp- 
tion clauses  of  1349  and  1372.  Thenceforward  the  Jewry  of 
Frankfort  was  subject  to  municipal  taxation  only,  saving  the  two 
items  mentioned  hereinbefore. 

IV. 

Meantime,  the  Jews  had  to  render  unto  Caesar  what  was  Cae- 
sar's (and  a  good  deal  that  wasn't  in  the  shape  of  casual  bribes) 
in  addition  to  crushing  municipal  taxes  and  occasional  extortions. 
Indeed,  there  was  a  grimly  ludicrous  element  in  the  attitude  of 
Frankfort  toward  its  Jews.  In  reversal  of  conventionally  accepted 
notions,  the  city  throughout  its  history  as  an  independent  estate  of 
the  realm  assumed  the  role  of  a  Christian  Shylock  inexorably  bear- 
ing down  upon  a  Jewish  Antonio.     How  it  made  thrift  with  the 


CONCERNING  THE  JEWS  OF  FRANKFORT.     17 

Emperors'  collateral,  will  be  gathered  from  the  following  brief 
account : 

Though  forbidden  by  law  to  style  themselves  citizens  of  Frank- 
fort, the  Jews  paid  both  ordinary  taxes  as  due  from  townsmen  and 
extraordinary  ones  as  Jews.  The  latter  came  under  the  following 
heads : 

1.  Two  thousand  florins  of  annual  Protection-Money. 

2.  Two  hundred  and  fifty  florins  per  annum  by  way  of  rent  for 

a  town  lot  used  as  a  Jewish  cemetery. 

3.  Four  hundred  yearly  florins  for  the  maintenance  of  privies 

giving  upon  the  town  moat. 

4.  An  assessment  of  130  florins  per  year  as  a  contribution  to- 

ward the  cost  of  street-cleaning. 

5.  An  annual  fee  of  5.30  fl.  for  the  periodical  renewal  of  the 

cemetery  lease. 

6.  fVater pipe-Money,  to  the  amount  of  10^  florins  in  gold, 

payable  on  their  wedding-day  by  every  newly  married 
Jewish  couple. 

8.  Annual  renewal  of  Rights  of  Domicile:  542.27  florins. 

9.  Fair-Money,  paid  by  the  Jewish  traders  around  fair  time 

for  police  protection.  Amount  varying,  but  estimated  by 
the  lessees  to  be  worth  a  rent  shilling  of  250  florins  p.  a. 
during  the  years  of  1792-1799. 

10.  Night-Groats,  payable  by  Jewish  sojourners  for  the  privi- 

lege of  temporary  abode  within  the  town  liberties  during 
fair  times. 

11.  Assessment  for  the  Inspection  of  Clothing  offered  for  Sale 

(Tuchschau-Geld) ,  80  florins  per  annum. 

12.  For  the  municipal   Inspection  of  Slaughtered  Geese:  20 

florins  per  annum. 

13.  Tallow  Dues:  94.24  florins  p.  a. 

14.  For  Permission  to  Grind  Passover  Meal:  3  florins  p.  a. 

15.  Other  Milling  Permits:  estimated  at  250  florins  p.  a. 

16.  Sunday  Passport  Dues,  for  permission  to  leave  Jews'  Lane 

on  Sunday.    Turned,  in  1797,  into  a  yearly  tax  of  150 


18    CONCERNING  THE  JEWS  OF  FRANKFORT. 

florins,  payable  by  the  Jewish  community  to  the  town 
fiscal. 

17.  Jewish  Passport  Dues  for  travelers.     Annual  yield  uncer- 

tain. 

18.  Fair  Presents  "according  to  ancient  usage."     Estimated  by 

the  Jews  themselves  in  1808  at  506.42  florins  per  annum. 

19.  The  customary  New  Year's  Presents  to  the  Town  Authori- 

ties, comprising  an  extraordinarily  large  number  of  petty 
gratuities,  amounting  altogether  to  about  1,000  florins. 

20.  Paving  Tolls,  estimated  at  880  florins  per  annum. 

21.  Soup  Money  (sic)   for  the  Town  Guard:    3  florins  p.  a. 

from  every  head  of  the  Jewish  community. 

22.  Town  Scale  Money,  for  the  weighing  of  Hebrew  books. 

23.  Building  Inspectors'  Tax. 

24.  Jews'  Toll  on  Ox  Hides. 

25.  Jews'  Toll  on  Wine. 

26.  Jews'  Toll  in  Release  of  Guard  Duties. 

All  this  in  excess  of  common  town  taxes  and  leaving  casual 
extortions  out  of  reckoning.  Yet  when  in  1814,  after  500  years 
of  spoliation,  the  Jews  of  Frankfort  pleaded  the  cause  of  their 
civic  emancipation  before  the  Congress  of  Vienna,  the  city  magis- 
trate had  the  calmness  to  remind  the  assembled  notabilities  of  the 
50,200  pound  hellers  paid  for  the  Jews  in  1349,  of  the  6,000  florins 
additional  paid  in  1372,  and  of  Emperor  Leopold's  quit-claim  of 
1685  for  a  consideration  of  20,000  florins: 

The  pound  of  flesh 

Is  dearly  bought,  'tis  mine,  and  I  will  have  it. 
And  to  the  proffered  mediation  of  neighboring  powers  the  city 
made  answer  by  a  publication  of  the  old  parchments  in  1817: 

My  deeds  upon  my  head — /  crave  the  haw. 

The  penaltie  and  forfeit  of  my  bond. 

V. 

Frankfort-on-the-Main  was  the  first  German  city  to  adopt  and 
the  last  to  abandon  the  policy  of  segregating  the  Jews  in  an  out- 


CONCERNING  THE  JEWS  OF  FRANKFORT.     19 

lying  quarter  of  the  town,  after  the  earlier  manner  of  the  Spanish 
and  Italian  communities.  Until  1462  they  dwelled  wherever  they 
chose,  very  often  under  the  same  roof  with  Christians,  and  not  in- 
frequently in  the  stateliest  mansions  in  town.  Judaei  in  optima 
loci  situ  habitare  solebant,  according  to  the  testimony  of  an  old 
chronicler  of  Frankfort.  Also,  they  chaffered  peacefully  with  their 
Christian  fellow-traders  under  the  shadow  of  St.  Bartholomew's 
Church  until  1462,  when  the  town  authorities  were  reminded  by 
Emperor  Frederick  III.  that  their  presence  within  the  asylum  of 
the  Bishop's  cathedral  was  an  insult  to  the  faith.  The  Emperor's 
remonstrance  was  prompted  by  the  clergy  and  after  some  wavering 
was  heeded  by  the  town  council.  A  row  of  rude  dwellings  was 
hastily  erected  upon  a  place  without  the  old  city  walls  appropri- 
ately called  Woolshearers'  Moat,  and  the  Jewry  bidden  to  with- 
draw thither  and  thenceforward  to  abide  there.  For  having  re- 
moved the  alien  unbelievers  from  a  spot  where  they  could  daily  see 
the  ceremonies  of  the  Christian  Church  {"unde  quasi  continue 
videre  potuerunt  cerimonias")  their  Worships  were  praised  by 
Pope  Pius  II.®  the  same,  whose  sbirri  drove  the  Jews  of  Rome  by 
force  of  arms  every  Saturday  afternoon  into  a  Christian  Church, 
there  to  be  preached  to  by  a  monk  for  the  salvation  of  their  souls. 

The  Jews  henceforth  confined  within  a  ghetto  did  not  own  its 
soil — they  were  lessees  of  the  town  council  which  had  built  habi- 
tations in  Jews'  Lane  at  the  expense  of  their  future  residents.  "It 
is  thus  that  the  council  owns  the  ground  on  which  Jews'  Lane 
stands.  The  gates  of  the  ghetto,  which  were  very  strong  and  lined 
with  iron,  were  kept  closed  every  Sunday  and  saint's  day,  as  also 
upon  the  days  when  the  Emperor  entered  the  city.  The  Jews  were 
enjoined  not  to  show  themselves  in  public,  nor  to  pass  by  any 
church.  If  business  brought  them  to  the  Town  Hall,  they  were 
not  allowed  to  enter  by  the  main  door  but  by  a  small  door  from 
behind.  The  men  were  compelled  to  wear  a  yellow  patch  about 
the  size  of  a  crown  piece  upon  their  garments,  and  the  women 
blue  stripes  to  their  veils.  They  were  also  enjoined  to  make  room 
for  other  citizens  on  the  pavement,  and  not  to  touch  any  of  the 
articles  in  the  market.    They  were  not  allowed  to  buy  fish  before 


20    CONCERNING  THE  JEWS  OF  FRANKFORT. 

a  certain  hour  of  the  day,  nor  to  hire  Christians  as  servants.  The 
council  consented  to  dispense  with  their  wearing  the  distinguishing 
cap  on  payment  of  a  fine  of  250  florins,  but  they  were  compelled 
to  have  either  a  black  or  a  grey  hat.  They  were  forbidden  to  lend 
money  to  minors  or  to  women,  or  to  sell  new  clothes.  .  .  .  These 
minute  regulations,  together  with  many  more  of  a  similar  nature, 
were  read  out  every  year  in  the  Synagogue.  Age  did  not  whither 
nor  custom  stale  their  wonderful  variety.  The  Jews'  Statutes  of 
1616  were  still  in  force  when  Kleber's  canons  battered  in  the  ghetto 
doors  of  Frankfort  in  1796.  Also,  they  were  among  the  earliest 
infamies  resurrected  by  a  triumphant  reaction  after  Napoleon's 
overthrow  in  1814.  Among  other  details,  they  barred  the  public 
sidewalks  to  the  Jews,  compelling  them  to  walk  in  the  middle  of 
the  road.  They  allowed  them  four  physicians  and  no  more,  to 
minister  to  their  sick — in  the  seventeenth  century — and  stuck  to 
that  limitation  anno  1830,  the  Jewish  community  having  in  the 
meantime  trebled  in  number.  When  tobacco  came  into  general 
acceptance,  they  were  forbidden  the  use  of  it  outdoors.  If  more 
than  two  were  seen  walking  abreast,  the  police  impounded  their 
hats !  ^"^  These  bars  to  free  locomotion — together  with  the  rest  of 
the  Jews*  Statutes — were  put  up  in  1616.  They  were  reinforced 
and  newly  proclaimed  against  trespassers  in  1756  and  again  in 
1765.^^  Jewesses  were  forbidden,  under  heavy  penalties,  to  wear 
velvet,  or  holiday  dress  of  more  than  one  color  or  of  material  cost- 
ing more  than  two  dollars  per  yard,  or  silk  on  work-a-days.  Nor 
were  men  suffered,  under  the  like  heavy  penalties,  to  wear  gilt 
or  silver  buttons  or  peruques,  blond  or  white,  in  an  age  when  false 
hair  was  universally  in  use  among  the  reputable  part  of  the  popu- 
lation. An  intensely  gregarious  race  was  cut  to  the  quick  by  an 
ordinance  restricting  the  number  of  wedding  guests.  The  oppor- 
tunity to  exceed  this  maximum  was  lessened  by  another  ordinance 
restricting  to  a  dozen  couples  the  permissible  number  of  Jewish 
marriages  within  a  twelvemonth.  To  this  maximum  number  of 
licensed  marriages  the  council  still  adhered  in  1830,  what  time 
the  Jewish  population  amounted  to  some  five  thousand  souls.  The 
town  council  of  Frankfort  also  saved  Into  the  nineteenth  century 


CONCERNING  THE  JEWS  OF  FRANKFORT.    21 

another  relic  of  the  seventeenth  called  the  Jews'  Oath  or  jura- 
mentum  more  Judaico,  an  especial  formula  imposed  upon  Jewish 
suitors  or  defendants  in  court  which  run  in  part  as  follows:  "If 
I  make  false  avowal  may  brimstone  and  sulphur  pour  down  upon 
me  as  it  poured  down  upon  Sodom  and  Gomorrah.  If  I  make 
false  avowal,  may  I  sink  into  the  earth  as  did  Dathan  and  Abiram. 
May  I  turn  into  a  pillar  of  salt,  like  unto  the  wife  of  Lott.  May 
measles  and  leprosy  strike  me  as  they  did  strike  Naeman  and  Mir- 
iam, the  sister  of  Moses.  May  gout  and  epilepsy  befall  me,  may 
my  body  be  accursed  and  my  soul  never  rest  in  the  bosom  of  Abra- 
ham our  father."  ^^  On  the  strength  of  such  evidence,  posterity 
will  perhaps  agree  with  Ludwig  Boerne,  greatest  of  sons  of  the 
Frankfort  Ghetto,  who  called  its  statutes  "a  romance  of  wicked 
ill-will." 

VI. 

The  most  damning  evidence  of  this  wicked  Ill-will,  however, 
were  not  the  regulations  of  the  Lane,  but  Jews'  Lane  itself  in  all 
its  accusatory  hideousness.  Into  this  narrow  Lane,  incapable  of 
adequate  extension,  the  increase  of  population  pressed  and  crowd- 
ed a  swarming  mass  of  humanity,  453  families  in  1612,  505  in 
1709,  6,630  heads  in  1773,  until  late  in  the  eighteenth  century 
the  imminent  dread  of  pestilence  wrested  from  an  inhuman  magis- 
tracy some  slight  concessions,  such  as  the  privilege  granted  to  the 
prisoners  of  the  Lane  to  take  their  exercise  on  the  town  walls  and 
the  adding  of  an  annex  to  the  Lane.  That  thrift  was  made  of 
every  such  concession,  goes  without  saying.  The  Jews  had  to  pay 
for  the  privilege  of  taking  their  exercise  on  the  city  walls  as  well 
as  for  the  tearing  down  of  a  dead  wall  obstructing  the  free  passage 
of  air. 

Around  the  third  quarter  of  the  eighteenth  century,  Jews'  Lane 
in  Frankfort  had  become,  in  the  language  of  Boerne,  "the  worst 
congested  spot  in  Continental  Europe."  Around  the  same  time 
it  had  furthermore  become  an  international  scandal,  like  the  Bas- 
tille and  the  Spanish  Inquisition.    Travelers  reported  it  to  their 


22    CONCERNING  THE  JEWS  OF  FRANKFORT.        ^ 

countrymen  in  amazement.  The  French  gazettes  brought  impres- 
sive descriptions  of  its  filth,  its  misery,  the  skin-diseases  which  it 
bred  and  spread,  the  loathsome  and  insulting  painting  on  the  town 
wall  near  its  terminal,  which  the  council  twice  refused  to  obliterate 
or  erase,  with  other  details  apt  to  arouse  public  sentiment.  A 
"celebrated  British  traveler"  (Arthur  Young  ?)  gave  an  anony- 
mous account  of  the  Lane  which  made  such  a  stir  in  Europe  that 
it  caused  the  magistrate  of  Frankfort  to  answer  (anonymously)  in 
a  counterblast  of  denial. 

In  such  a  street,  under  such  surroundings  and  legal  restraints, 
in  such  an  atmosphere  of  municipal  obscurantism  and  heaped  op- 
pression, the  Rothschilds  of  Herr  Roessler's  play  were  born  and 
reared.  In  their  early  youth,  anno  1796,  the  Lane  was  shot  to 
pieces  by  General  Kleber,  when  the  French  Revolution,  a  friend  of 
mankind  in  a  stern  disguise,  thundered  at  the  doors  of  the  old  im- 
perial city.  One  hundred  and  forty  houses  on  Jews'  Lane  were 
destroyed  by  the  bombardment,  but  the  Lane  was  rebuilt  and  the 
Jews  reimprisoned,  after  some  years  of  an  interim  during  which 
Jews  and  Christians  freely  commingled  under  common  shelter. 
There  was  a  temporary  spell  of  emancipation  during  the  Napole- 
onic regime.  The  very  instant  the  burgher  municipality  of  Frank- 
fort emerged  from  under  the  yoke  of  Napoleon,  it  pounced  upon 
the  liberated  Jews,  subjecting  them  again  to  the  Staetligkeit  of 
Emperor  Matthias. 

In  the  midst  of  this  gloom  of  1815  and  after,  the  Rothschilds 
w^alked  as  privileged  persons.  They  were  the  only  people  in  Jews' 
Lane  owning  the  ground  their  family  mansion  stood  on.  In  cast 
of  character,  they  were  genuine  Frankforters  as  well  as  Jews.  It 
is  a  strange  but  indisputable  fact,  that  Gentile  and  Jew  in  Frank- 
fort, in  spite  of  artificial  sunderings,  have  modified  each  other  to 
such  a  degree  as  to  exchange  some  traits  of  character  and  speech. 
The  common  speech  of  the  Gentile  population  of  Frankfort  is  de- 
rided by  the  rest  of  Germany  as  a  sort  of  Jewish  jargon.  It  has 
a  specifically  Jewish  rhythm  and  intonation,  and  is  plentifully  in- 
terspersed with  Hebrew  locutions.  If  the  Frankforters  are  Juda- 
izing  in  their  love  of  commerce  and  their  wonted  manner  of  speech, 


CONCERNING  THE  JEWS  OF  FRANKFORT.    23 

the  Jews  of  Frankfort,  in  the  course  of  centuries,  assumed  some 
local  traits  of  character  which  they  share  with  their  Christian  com- 
patriots. Foremost  among  them  ranks  a  certain  purposefulness — 
a  steely  consistency  of  will  which  loves  to  hide  itself  in  social  in- 
tercourse under  a  superficies  of  easy-going  joviality.  Among  the 
ar'riveurs  of  America  in  every  walk  of  life  the  type  is  sufficiently 
frequent  to  be  familiar  to  the  public.  Seest  thou  a  German-Ameri- 
can diligent  in  his  business?  The  odds  are  heavy  he  comes  from 
Frankfort. 

Of  such  were  the  Rothschilds  of  Herr  Roessler's  play,  viri 
tenaces  propositi,  holding  on  like  grim  death,  not  only  to  their 
business  traditions,  but  to  their  religion  as  well,  our  pla)rwright's 
light-hearted  little  fiction  of  a  proposed  match  between  a  daughter 
of  the  Rothschilds  and  a  Christian  ruler  notwithstanding.^*  I 
have  endeavored  here,  as  far  as  a  scanty  measure  of  space  allowed, 
to  sketch  the  setting  in  which  they  had  to  fight  their  battles.  By 
way  of  postscript,  I  desire  to  correct  an  error  of  rather  wide  cur- 
rency, which  Herr  Roessler  seems  to  share:  the  Rothschilds  were 
by  no  means  the  first  Jewish  house  ennobled  by  a  German  Em- 
peror. In  1822  the  nobilitation  of  wealthy  Jews  was  already  a 
commonplace  of  German  high  life.  The  first  German  Jew  ever 
ennobled  was  a  contemporary  and  financial  confederate  of  Wal- 
lenstein  during  the  Thirty  Years*  War — one  Bassevi,  surnamed 
von  Treuenberg,  which  is  to  say  "Mount-o'  Faith." 


24    CONCERNING  THE  JEWS  OF  FRANKFORT. 


NOTES 

1.  Prof.  Werner  Sombart,  in  "Die  Juden  und  das  Wtrtschafts- 
leben." 

2.  Cp.  "Zeitschrift  fuer  die  Geschichte  der  Juden  in  Deutsch- 
land"  I.  191  et  seg. 

3.  As  to  the  early  commercial  greatness  of  Frankfort-on-the- 
Maln,  vide  "Beitraege  zur  Wirtschafts — und  Sozialgeschichte  der 
Reichsstadt  Frankfurt"  Lips.  1906.  Luther,  in  1521,  calls  the 
commerce  of  Frankfort  "a  main-current  of  gold  fed  by  many 
rivers." 

4.  Regarding  the  divorcement  of  the  Jews  from  the  soil  and 
their  compulsory  preoccupation  w^ith  barren  shifts  of  finance,  cp. 
the  profoundly  pathetic  plaint  of  R.  Salman  Zevi,  as  quoted  by 
Johann  Jacob  Schudt,  in  "Juedische  Merkw^uerdigkeiten,"  Frankf. 
&L'ips,  1715,  vol.  L  L.  VL  184: 

"Nos  miselli  paulo  plus  sumimus  quam  Christian!  solent,  ip- 
samque  saepe  sortem  cum  usura  amittimus,  maximis  oneribus  et 
vectigalibus  pressi  et  ab  exercenda  omni  negotiatione  abstinere  jussi. 
...  In  toto  mundo  nihil  melius  est  usura  quam  Tellus  reddere 
solet.  Rusticus  medimnum  frumenti  agro  mandat,  et  triginta  ex 
eo  metit,  victumque  habet  certumi,  suasque  vaccas,  vitulos,  butyrum, 
farinam,  lac,  carnem,  gallinas,  anseres,  et  quidquid  facto  usus  est: 
Nos  vero  pauperculi  agriculturam  non  habemus,  nee  spes  uUa  earn 
consequendi  affulget :  Sed  expectandum  nobis  est,  num  ab  alio  quid 
emere  queamus,  .  .  .ejus  quidem  loco  foenus  agitare  permissum 
nobis  est.  At  nil  nisi  odium  apud  Christianos  parit  nobis  haec 
licentia,  ac  immanes  gravesque  inimicitias,  ut  omnino  optarim, 


CONCERNING  THE  JEWS  OF  FRANKFORT.    25 

licitum  nobis  esse  agrum  colere,  omnemque  negotiationem  exercere : 
promti  enim  et  lubentes  a  foenore  abstineremus,  quod  in  summa 
nos  saepe  conjicit  pericula,  solumque  vertere  ejubet:  imo  ipsa  sors 
et  usura  saepissime  pereunt,  argentoque  nostro  multoties  emungi- 
mur,  quae  discrimina  cuncta  rustico  non  metuenda  sunt,  cuius  res 
ac  fortunae  tutiori  in  loco  positae  manent:  nee  enim  arva  aut  jugera 
ejus  auferri  possunt.  Existimo  autem  prorsus,  hac  ipsa  licentia 
foenus  exercendi  insidias  nobis  structas  esse,  tamquam  muribus 
lardo,  ut  capti  in  vinculas  facilius  compelleremur  .  .  .  et  foenus 
quidem  ipsum  nihil  aliud  est,  quam  execratio  et  maledictio  in  Lege, 
quod  multam  nobis  conciliat  invidiam,  rixas,  perpetuasque  lites." 

5.  Cp.  Beitraege,  etc.,  p.  74  et  seg. ;  also  Schudt,  1.  c.  "Von  der 
Frankfurter  Juden  Handthierung  und  Gewerb." 

6.  Of  1509.    Beitraege,  p.  74. 

7.  "Two  men,"  in  colloquial  old  Italian,  were  "due  Christian!." 
"Honest"  (ehrlich)  and  "Christian"  (christlich)  were  inter- 
changeable terms  in  old  German  usage.  Cp.  in  Goethe's  Goetz 
von  Berlichingen  the  soldier's  admonition  to  the  innkeeper,  to  give 
honest  (christliche)  measure.  For  a  curious  English  vulgarism 
along  the  same  lines,  cp.  that  passage  in  Oliver  Twist,  where  a 
dog  of  well-nigh  human  intelligence  is  spoken  of  as  "almost  a 
Christian."  When  "human  beings"  in  general  are  referred  to  in 
Russian  peasant  speech,  they  are  spoken  of  (to  this  day)  as  "ortho- 
dox believers." 

8.  In  Frankfort,  the  ancient  coronation  city  of  the  German 
Emperors,  the  Jews,  during  the  coronation  festivities,  were  not 
allowed  to  leave  the  Lane.  As  for  their  exclusion  from  taverns 
and  stews,  cp.  Schudt,  1.  c.  I.  L.  VI.  Ch.  XVIII. 

9.  In  a  bull  dated  Oct.  7th,  1460,  reproduced  in  Lersner's 
Chronik,  etc.,  I.  812. 

10.  Dr.  I.  Kracauer,  Geschichte  der  Judengasse,  etc.,  p.  417. 


26    CONCERNING  THE  JEWS  OF  FRANKFORT. 

11.  Ibid,  p.  417  et  seq. 

12.  Ibid,  p.  425  et  seq. 

13.  Juden-Staettigkeit  of  1705,  p.  9. 

14.  Cp.  The  Rothschilds^  by  John  Reeves,  London,  1887. 


The  Five  Frankf orters 


ACT  I. 


Sitting  room  of  Frau  Gudula's  old  family  mansion  in  Frank- 
fort-on-the-Main.  Heavy,  massive  furniture  suggestive  of  the 
baroque.  Every  individual  item  bears  witness  to  the  loving  dis' 
crimination  that  acquired  and  the  care  that  preserved  it.  On 
the  walls  good  paintings  of  the  Seekatz  times — also  a  French 
Landscape  of  the  Claude  Lorraine  school.  At  the  deep  Dutch 
window  through  which  the  dingy  old  houses  of  Jew's  Lane  are 
visible  J  a  sewing  table,  and  in  front  of  it  an  easy  chair,  Frau 
Gudula's  favorite  seat.    In  the  corner  a  spinet. 

RoSEj  the  old  housekeeper,  and  hlZZiE,  a  housemaid  in  her  teens. 

ROSE 

{at  the  linen  press,  counting) 
Seventeen,  eighteen — there,  take  the  table-napkins  and  place  one 
with  every  cover. 


LIZZIE 


How  many  are  coming? 


ROSE 
Don't  ask,  little  silly.    One  never  knows  in  this  house.    There  will 
be  another  family  gathering  and  a  few  guests. 

UZZIE 

What  guests? 

27 


28  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

ROSE 

How  should  I  know  ?  Maybe  the  Leather-Wolf  of  Swamp  Alley, 
maybe  an  archbishop,  or  possibly  His  Highness  the  Landgrave 
of  Hesse. 

LIZZIE 

The  Landgrave — to  us  in  Jew's  Lane? 

ROSE 
I  should  like  to  have  a  florin  for  every  visit  he  has  paid  us.  He 
and  his  father.  He  often  called  when  old  Meyer  Amschel  was 
alive.  At  this  table  they  were  sitting  until  midnight,  playing 
chess  and  drinking  Hock.  And  matzeh  and  macaroons  they 
ate.  The  Landgrave's  coach  was  always  kept  waiting  around 
the  corner,  because  our  Jew's  Lane  is  too  narrow  for  driving. 

LIZZIE 

That  such  a  wealthy  lady  should  bide  in  such  a  smelly  old  lane ! 

ROSE 

You  don't  understand.  The  Herr  Consul,  the  oldest  of  our  five 
boys,  bought  her  a  house  in  the  Fahrgass,  with  a  garden  bigger 
and  finer  than  his  own.  But  our  old  Frau  Gudula  wouldn't 
put  up  there. 

LIZZIE 

Just  fancy!    And  the  house  stands  empty  now? 

ROSE 
That's  where  you  don't  know  our  Meyer  Amschel.    He  sold  it  to 
the  city  of  Frankfort — and  a  handsome  penny  he  made  on  the 
deal. 

{A  knock  at  the  door.) 

{Enter  Court- Jeweler  Boel,  a  stout  man  in  his  latter  fifties. 
He  carries  a  plate-box  and  a  jewel-case.) 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  29 

BOEL 

Good  morning,  Miss  Rose.  I  am  bringing  back  the  things  myselL 
Too  risky  for  me  to  trust  a  young  man  with  such  valuables. 
Where  is  your  mistress? 

ROSE 
In  the  synagogue. 

BOEL 
On  a  work-a-day? 

ROSE 
It's  the  anniversary  of  her  father  selig. 

BOEL 

Sure,  old  Schnapper  in  his  little  coin-shop  never  dreamt  that  his 
daughter  would  once  eat  off  a  golden  service.  {He  places  a 
case  on  the  table.)  There,  now!  Never  handled  in  my  life 
another  service  like  this  one. 

ROSE 

I  should  think  not!'  It's  a  present  of  the  King  of  Denmark — as 
a  token,  because  the  old  Herr  Meyer  Amschel  once  helped  him 
out  with  a  couple  of  millions,  else  the  King  simply  would  have 
had  to  shut  up  his  Kingdom. 

{A  ring  is  heard.) 

ROSE 
Go,  Lizzie,  and  see  who  it  is. 

{Exit  Lizzie.) 

BOEL 

There  is  that  new  emerald-set — I  had  to  fit  a  new  lock  to  it. 

ROSE 

Madam  has  already  been  inquiring. 


30  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

BOEL 

Did  she?    I  didn't  know  there  was  any  hurry.    What's  up  now? 

ROSE 
Must  be  something  grand — couriers  are  coming  twice  every  hour. 
Herr  Nathan  from  London  is  already  in  town.    The  other  sons 
are  due  to-day,  or  else  to-morrow. 

BOEL 

Where  do  all  these  gentlemen  keep  themselves? 

ROSE 

Herr  Nathan  in  London,  Herr  Carl  in  Naples,  Salomon  in  Vienna, 
and  little  Jacob  lives  in  Paris  now  and  is  called  Jacques — our 
boys  are  everywhere.  And  what  boys  they  are!  The  least  of 
'em  is  a  court  banker.  One  is  a  consul,  the  other  a  consul- 
general 

(  Jacob^  the  youngest  of  the  Rothschilds,  enters  through  the  middle 
and  overhears  Rose's  last  words.  He  is  a  tall,  good-looking 
lad,  somewhat  weary  despite  his  twenty-eight  years.  In  his 
manners  he  has  had  the  best  inward  and  outward  training  of 
London  and  Paris.  He  is  dressed  with  inconspicuous  care,  and, 
like  his  brothers,  strives  to  efface  whatever  little  there  appears 
of  Jewish  traits  in  his  outward  aspect.) 

JACOB 

Rose,  will  you  ever  leave  off  bragging? 

ROSE 

Our  Master  Jacob! 

JACOB 
(patting  her) 
Well,  old  Rose,  still  good  at  gabbing.    How's  your  health? 

ROSE 

Fair  enough,  Master  Jacob,  only  the  eyes  are  giving  way. 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  31 

JACOB 

Where  is  mother? 

ROSE 

Due  home  any  minute. 

JACOB 

Good  day,  Mr.  Boel. 

BOEL 

Your  servant,  Herr  Jacob. 

JACOB 

How  is  business? 

BOEL 

Patrons  like  you  are  lacking. 

JACOB 

Aye,  to  be  sure,  you  were  the  first  I  ever  ran  in  debt  with. 

BOEL 

A  matter  of  a  little  diamond  bracelet — a  present,  you  told  me,  for 
your  little  sister 

JACOB 

But  a  little  French  actress  got  it — with  a  little  poem. 

BOEL 

You  have  grown  since  a  proper  young  gentleman. 

JACOB 

I  am  still  presenting  bracelets  to  the  French  actresses,  only  the 
poems  I  have  outgrown. 

ROSE 

{listening) 
There's  the  old  lady  a-coming. 

JACOB 

(seatinfl  himself  in  a  corner) 
Don't  tell  I  am  here,  Rose. 


32  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

(Frau  Gudula  enters.  A  seventy-year  old  matron  of  stately  car- 
riage. Traces  of  beauty  in  the  uithered'face.  In  her  eyes  now 
and  then  a  flicker  of  youth.  Her  hands  are  delicate  and  slen- 
der. She  is  attired  in  dark  silk,  is  sparingly  and  inconspicuously 
be  jeweled  and  wears  a  lace  cap,  under  which  a  few  white  ring- 
lets are  protruding.  In  her  hand  she  carries  a  prayer-book  and 
reticule. ) 

(Rose  leaves,  after  relieving  her  mistress.) 

GUDULA 

(to  BoEL^  without  noticing  Jacob) 
Good  day,  Herr  Boel. 

BOEL 

Mrs.  Court-Banker,  I  brought  your  valuables — everything  has  been 
cleaned  and  examined. 

GUDULA 

How  much  is  your  bill  ? 

BOEL 

Seven  florins,  if  you  please. 

GUDULA 
Go  to  my  son  in  the  Fahrgass — he  will  see  you  paid. 

{A  nod  of  dismissal.) 

BOEL 
Your  servant,  Mrs.  Court-Banker. 

{Exit.) 

(GuDULA  locks  Up  the  jewelry  in  the  chest.) 

JACOB 

{who  smilingly  watched  her) 
Well,  Mother,  it  seems  you  won't  notice  me ! 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  33 

GUDULA 

My  little  Jacob!  Good  God,  how  you  startled  me  J  Why,  lad, 
what  art  doing  here? 

JACOB 

Just  sitting  and  waiting  for  my  mother. 

GUDULA 

{pats  him  on  the  hand,  then  kisses  him  upon  both  cheeks 
and  on  his  forehead;  smiling) 

Those  bairns  of  mine!  If  you  think  one  In  Paris,  he  is  snuggling 
at  home  in  a  corner,  another  is  supposed  to  be  in  Naples,  all 
of  a  sudden,  a  courier  arrives  from  Aschaffenburg  with  the 
message  of  his  coming.  Little  Jacob,  my  child!  (Kissing 
him.)     How  long  have  you  been  in  Frankfort? 

JACOB 

Five  minutes. 

GUDULA 

And  you  went  straight  to  your  mother  ?  That's  right  and  proper. 
Where  do  you  put  up  ? 

JACOB 

At  Amschel's  in  the  Fahrgass.  I  haven't  been  there  as  yet.  Just 
sent  my  valet  with  the  baggage. 

GUDULA 

You  must  be  famished. 

{Pulls  the  bell-rope.   Enter  RoSE.) 

GUDULA 

Rose !  Bring  coffee  for  the  young  Master,  and  butter,  and  those 
saffron  loaves  he  fancies. 

(Rose  off.) 


34  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

GUDULA 
There  now,  sit  beside  me  in  the  light,  where  I  can  see  how  you 
look.    You  have  grown  again.    A  little  pale  you  are  looking. 

JACOB 

Just  weariness  of  travel. 

GUDULA 

{pressing  him  into  a  big  armchair) 

There,  now  you  are  comfortably  seated.  Do  you  want  another 
cushion?  (Jacob  smilingly  suffers  her  attentions.)  Do  you 
live  a  proper  life  in  Paris?  I  often  have  my  fears.  In  truth, 
I  don't  like  my  boys  to  be  cast  about  among  strangers.  The 
girls,  too,  have  left  me,  all  marrying  into  foreign  parts.  They, 
too,  don't  belong  to  me  any  more,  and  yet,  I  should  have  loved 
to  gather  my  children  around  me.  How  do  you  live  in  Paris, 
little  Jacob  ? 

JACOB 

Plenty  of  work  and  a  good  deal  of  pleasure,  on  'Change  and  in  the 
counting-room  by  day,  in  the  evening  theatre,  ai)d  concerts  and 
society. 

GUDULA 
And  when  do  you  rest? 

JACOB 

Truth  to  tell,  only  when  I  am  traveling. 

GUDULA 

That  is  no  manner  of  life,  my  child.  You  need  the  care  of  a 
woman. 

JACOB 

Come  you  with  me  to  Paris,  Mother! 

GUDULA 

Little  Jacob,  I  am  an  old  woman,  I  bide  liefest  at  home  or  in 
Amschel's  garden. 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  35 

JACOB 

Did  you  come  just  now  from  Amschel? 

GUDULA 

I  came  from  synagogue.  It  is  the  anniversary  of  my  father  selig. 
{Smiling.)  Mind,  little  Jacob,  I  love  to  go  to  synagogue. 
That's  something  for  old  folks.  It's  so  beautifully  still,  there 
one  may  dream.  In  the  corner  my  father  sat,  there  stands  the 
chair  of  my  dead  husband.  There  they  chanted  over  him  the 
prayer  for  the  dead.  And  they  will  do  as  much  for  me  one 
of  these  days. 

(Rose  enters  with  coffee  and  refreshments.) 

GUDULA 

Don't  stir,  little  Jacob,  I'll  pour  for  you.  Plenty  of  milk,  eh? 
Shall  I  spread  you  a  roll  ? 

JACOB 

Thank  you.  Mother.  On  coming  home  to  you,  one  feels  like  a 
little  boy  come  home  from  school. 

GUDULA 

You  haven't  been  home  for  a  long  time.  Nearly  two  years  agone. 
How  long  will  you  bide  this  time? 

JACOB 

That  I  don't  know.  Mother;  I  don't  even  know  on  what  errand 
I  came.  Salomon  has  sent  me  a  message  through  an  express 
courier  to  drop  everything  and  come  at  once. 

GUDULA 

Nathan,  too,  came  from  London  the  other  night  on  the  same  short 
notice.    Neither  he  nor  Amschel  know  what's  in  the  air. 

JACOB 

I  suppose  Carl  is  expected  likewise  to  come  from  Naples. 

GUDULA 

Yes,  I  received  word  of  his  coming  from  Aschaflfenburg. 


36  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

JACOB 

Some  big  business  must  be  afoot. 

GUDULA 

Does  another  King  need  money  ?  Well,  if  he's  respectable  and  to 
be  trusted,  he  may  have  it. 

JACOB 

In  general,  I  believe  there  is  a  good  deal  to  be  talked  over  between 
the  five  of  us. 

GUDULA 

That  is  a  blessed  custom  of  yours  to  gather  under  father's  roof  at 
every  w^eighty  turn. 

JACOB 

I  have  brought  you  a  little  keepsake.  Mother.  {Hands  her  a  small 
package. ) 

GUDULA 

You  shouldn't  spend  so  much  money  on  an  old  woman.  What 
is  it  this  time?     {Opens  the  parcel.) 

JACOB 
Old  Brussels  laces. 

GUDULA 

How  wonderfully  dainty  they  are !  And  whence  might  they  come 
from? 

JACOB 

They  are  over  a  hundred  years  old.  They  are  said  to  be  an  erst- 
while heirloom  of  the  Countess  Palatine  of  Speyer. 

GUDULA 

My  mother's  kinsfolk  are  from  Speyer.  My  grandfather  perchance 
had  to  jump  into  the  ditch  when  the  Countess  Palatine  rode 
past  with  her  courtiers,  and  now  I  am  to  wear  her  laces.  These 
be  strange  times,  little  Jacob. 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  37 

(Meyer  Amschel,  a  big  man,  end  of  the  forties,  inclined  to  stout- 
ness, leisurely  in  his  movements,  shrewd  eyes,  very  circumspect, 
his  fine  clothes  showing  traces  of  carelessness.  His  somewhat 
noisy  joviality  is  not  always  wholly  genuine,) 

MEYER  AMSCHEL 

Why,  there  Is  our  Benjamin !  How  do  you  do,  little  Jacob !  ( They 
kiss.)  Well,  Mother,  are  you  happy?  Well,  Jacob,  are  you 
called  now  James  or  Jacques? 

JACOB 

Always  Jacob  for  domestic  use. 

AMSCHEL 

In  every  land  you  shape  your  name  after  the  manner  of  the  coun- 
try. In  London,  you  have  been  James,  in  Paris,  Monsieur 
Jacques. 

JACOB 

I  can't  require  the  Parisians  to  call  me  little  Jacob.  You  have 
easy  talking.  You  are  snugly  staying  at  home  in  Frankfort, 
bearing  father's  old  name. 

AMSCHEL 

To  carry  a  name  like  Meyer  Amschel,  do  you  call  that  a  joke? 

JACOB 

At  any  rate,  my  Parisian  task  is  the  harder  one,  for  in  Paris  I  have 
to  find  a  reputation  for  the  name. 

AMSCHEL 

And  I  must  maintain  one  here. 

JACOB 

You  are  the  chief  of  the  clan  and  all  the  honors  are  coming  your 
way.  Since  I  saw  you  last  you  have  become  Bavarian  Consul. 
My  sincere  felicitations. 


38  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

AMSCHEL 

Not  at  all.  Formerly  only  my  co-religionists  wrote  me  begging 
letters,  now  all  Bavaria  has  joined  the  schnorring  procession. 
On  those  terms,  I  have  supped  on  titles  and  dignities.  I  need 
my  money  for  other  things. 

GUDULA 

Not  so,  you  are  rejoicing  over  every  bit  of  ribbon. 

AMSCHEL 

{comfortably  stroking  his  portly  stomach) 

No  use  for  additional  ones.  No  more  shelf-room,  you  know.  My 
friend,  the  Landgrave  of  Hesse,  digged  me  between  the  ribs  the 
other  day  and  said:  "Amschel,  you  must  get  a  little  stouter 
or  there  won't  be  any  room  for  the  Grand  Cordon  I  mean  to 
give  you."  The  Duke  of  Fulda  heard  it  and  went  off  into  a 
scream. 

GUDULA 

Are  j'ou  bragging  again  with  your  grand  acquaintances? 

AMSCHEL 

Mother,  every  handshake  of  a  sovereign  means  cash.  {Takes 
a  slice  of  a  roll.)  I  don't  know,  Mother,  how  it  is,  my  mfe 
has  all  your  recipes  and  yet,  for  a  truly  tasty  meal  I  have  to 
come  to  you. 


JACOB 
{smiling) 
Your  appetite  is  still  good,  I  see. 


AMSCHEL 

At  forty-seven  dinner  is  the  only  substantial  pleasure  left.  Mother 
made  a  bean  soup  the  other  day,  something  to  dream  about. 
You  may  search  all  Paris  and  won't  find  such  perfection.  {Eat- 
ing.) 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  39 

GUDULA 

{smiling) 
Hcrr  Consul,  don't  gorge! 

JACOB 

Let  him,  if  he  likes  it. 

AMSCHEL 

This  is  the  house  where  things  are  to  my  relish.  It's  the  snuggest 
house  in  all  Frankfort. 

JACOB 

And  yet  you  live  elsewhere ! 

AMSCHEL 

Well,  it  ain't  just  the  place,  I  have  to  represent  a  great  house. 
And  as  for  my  wife, — have  you,  perhaps,  the  courage  to  tell  her 
to  live  in  Jew's  Lane  ? 

JACOB 
How  is  your  wife? 

AMSCHEL 

My  darling  Emma  is  sitting  in  the  garden,  doing  nothing  and 
thinking  up  something  to  quarrel  about  with  me  in  the  evening. 

GUDULA 

Your  wife  has  not  enough  employment. 

JACOB 

A  wife's  rightful  occupation  are  her  children. 

AMSCHEL 

You  won't  tease  me  much  longer,  in  the  spring  I'll  send  her  to 
Franzensbad.     What's  a  home  without  a  child? 

GUDULA 

I,  too,  shouldn't  object  to  a  little  Meyer  Amschel. 

AMSCHEL 

I'd  build  a  new  synagogue,  if  I  knew  for  a  certainty  that  it  would 
help.     Salomon,  at  least,  has  a  daughter. 


40  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

{Enter  Nathan,  Amschel's  junior  by  one  year,  attired  with 
British  neatness  of  detail.  He  has  acquired  in  London  a  stiffly 
correct  carriage.  Also  he  has  been  taught  there  that  there  are 
better  profits  in  listening  than  in  talking.) 

NATHAN 

Good  da}',  Mother!  (Kisses  her  hand.  To  Jacob:)  Good  day, 
brother!  (Kisses  his  cheek,  nods  a  salute  to  Amschel.)  Have 
you  had  fair  traveling?  (Without  waiting  for  an  answer,  to 
his  Mother:)     Did  any  courier's  mail  arrive  for  me? 

GUDULA 

Not  yet. 

NATHAN 

(to  Jacob) 
On  what  date  did  Salomon  agree  to  meet  you  in  Frankfort? 

JACOB 
On  the  seventeenth. 

NATHAN 

Did  he  inform  you  of  the  purpose  of  this  gathering? 

JACOB 

He  only  mentioned  some  affair  of  weight. 

NATHAN 

That  goes  without  saying.  Else  there  would  be  no  occasion  for 
such  an  abrupt  by-play.  Really  now,  Salomon  has  a  little  dis- 
,  position  to  lord  it  over  us,  I  find. 

GUDULA 

So  far  he  always  did  the  right  thing  at  the  right  time. 

NATHAN 

I  am  not  belittling  his  talents,  Mother,  nor  do  I  deny  that  the 
resolves  born  of  our  gatherings  have  always  advanced  the  in- 
terests of  our  house.    This  time,  however,  I  have  been  ordered 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  41 

abroad  at  a  very  inconvenient  moment.  I  have  been  negotiating 
with  the  East  Indian  Company  to  assume  one  of  their  monop- 
olies. We'll  talk  about  it  after  Salomon's  and  Carl's  arrival. 
How  are  your  affairs  in  Paris? 

JACOB 

I  am  making  headway  slowly. 

NATHAN 

No  matter.  Your  chief  aim  must  be  to  take  firm  root  in  the  soil 
by  unimpeachable  solidity.  You  must  rest  content  for  years 
with  small  transactions,  mark,  time,  impress  people  as  an  indif- 
ferent observer,  keep  a  keen  eye  on  all  chances  and  then,  when 
the  great  moment  comes,  concentrate  all  your  energies, — never 
you  fear,  we  all  support  you ;  follow  your  opportunity,  heedless 
of  petty  considerations,  in  grand  style,  and  then — {searching 
for  the  right  word,  in  a  sudden  outburst)  grab!!' 

AMSCHEL 

One  must  have  the  right  scent! 

NATHAN 
{very  politely) 
Pardon  me,  my  age  gives  me  the  prerogative  of  instruction 

JACOB 
{smiling) 
I  have  heard  all  this  often  enough,  but  am  by  no  means  loath  to 
hear  it  once  again.    One  necessary  detail,  however,  you  forgot 
to  mention:  good  luck! 

NATHAN 

My  dear  Jacob,  good  luck  and  ill-fortune  are  concepts  of  hucksters ; 
ill-fortune  is  a  foolish  synonym  for  miscalculation.  On  what 
terms  are  you  with  the  Government  ? 

JACOB 

The  Premier  calls  me  his  jeune  ami  allemand  and  the  Minister  of 
Finance  has  shown  me  much  politeness  from  the  very  outset. 


42  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

NATHAN 

Our  family  has  never  had  occasion  to  complain  about  lack  of 
politeness  on  the  part  of  Ministers  of  Finance. 

JACOB 

He  has  been  lately  progressing  daily  in  cordiality.  I  am  scenting 
a  new  Government  loan. 

AMSCHEL 
There  are  no  stable  Governments  in  France;  every  little  moment 
there  is  another  King. 

NATHAN 

A  loan?    Oh,  yes,  one  might  make  sentiment  for  it  on  'Change. 

GUDULA 

Won't  you  have  luncheon,  Nathan,  dear?  You  haven't  had  as  yet 
a  meal  in  your  father's  house. 

NATHAN 

{consulting  his  watch) 
Thank  you.  Mother — in  the  evening.     We  must  go'  on  'Change 
now.    Come,  Jacob. 

JACOB 

Nothing  stirring  on  'Change  around  this  hour.  I  think  I'll  stay 
at  home. 

NATHAN 

Only  come  for  a  moment.  It's  meet  they  should  see  us  together 
on  'Change.  That  will  serve  as  a  reminder  of  our  solidarity. 
Adieu,  Mother!     (Exit,) 

AMSCHEL 
( Taking  Jacob's  arm  ) 
A  whole  hour  in  Frankfort  and  not  as  yet  on  'Change — that  won*t 
do.     Come,  little  Jacob!     (Marches  him  off.) 

(Frau  Gudula  seats  herself  at  her  sewing  table.    Enter  Rose.) 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  43 

ROSE 

If  you  please,  Madam,  who  are  going  to  dine  with  us  to-day? 

GUDULA 

I  think  all  the  boys  will  be  here  in  the  evening.  Every  one  shall 
find  his  favorite  dish  at  his  father's  table.  As  for  Amschel, 
he  must  have  carp  with  sauce  Polonaise. 

ROSE 

That  he  shall  have. 

GUDULA 

A  stewed  steak  for  Salomon — but  miHce  it  before  serving,  he  has 
a  habit  of  bolting  his  food.  You  must  get  some  goose  liver 
with  apple  sauce  for  Nathan;  that's  what  he  fancies  most. 

ROSE 

And  for  Master  Carl? 

GUDULA 

Carl  must  get  something  out  of  the  common — they  spoiled  him  in 
Italy;  you  had  better  prepare  him  a  roast  chicken.  And  my 
little  Jacob?     {Smiling.)     Have  you  any  passover  flour  left? 

ROSE 

Yes,  ma'am. 

GUDULA 

Then  make  him  a  metzeh  pudding.     He  can't  get  that  in  Paris. 
(Enter  LiZZIE.) 

LIZZIE 

Madam,  there  is  a  strange  young  lady  outdoors.  She  wants  to 
see  you  the  worst  way. 

GUDULA 

I  know.  ( Opening  her  purse.)  To-day  my  little  Jacob  came 
home — let  others  have  their  satisfaction  too.  Just  hand  her  this 

o-old  piece! 


44  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

LIZZIE 

Not  this  one — she  ain't  that  sort.  She  looks  like  a  little  princess. 
A  big  coach  is  in  waiting  for  her  around  the  corner. 

GUDULA 

Well,  we  are  used  to  all  sorts.  Show  her  in.  {Exit  Lizzie.) 
Rose,  put  my  lace  kerchief  straight. 

{Enter  Charlotte,  a  beautiful  girl  of  twenty,  in  traveling  attire, 
topped  by  a  magnificent  hat.  She  curtsies  deeply  before 
GuDULA.     Rose  likewise  curtseying,  off.) 

GUDULA 
I  take  it  kind  of  a  young  lady  to  call  on  an  old  woman  in  this 
narrow  lane. 

CHARLOTTE 

I  have  been  here  once  before — but  then  I  was  a  little  mite,  three 
years  of  age. 

GUDULA 

I  am  afraid  my  memory  fails  me. 

charlotte 
But  I — I  didn't  forget  you, — just  as  you  are  I  kept  your  likeness 
in  my  mind,  with  all  the  little  wrinkles,  set  in  a  frame  of  lace 
— only  in  my  memory  you  loomed  bigger.     And  there  on  this 
chair  my  grandfather  sat. 

GUDULA 
And  who  was  he? 

charlotte 
{smiling) 
Old  Meyer  Amschel. 

GUDULA 
Why,  it's  my  Salomon's  little  Lottie! 


•"-^ 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  45 

CHARLOTTE 

{kissing  her  hand) 
Grannie! 

GUDULA 

(kisses  her) 
But,  child,  what  wind  is  blowing  you  hither? 

CHARLOTTE 

I  came  with  papa. 

GUDULA 

Is  he  in  Frankfort? 

CHARLOTTE 

He  just  went  on  'Change. 

GUDULA 

My  little  Jacob  first  went  to  his  mother  and  then  on  'Change. 

CHARLOTTE 
{apologetically  ) 
You  sec,  our  entire  journey  did  not  carry  us  through  a  town  with 
an  exchange.     He  was  simply  dying  for  a  whiff  of  the  stock 
markets. 

GUDULA 

And  all  this  long  journey  he  dragged  you  in  his  train? 

CHARLOTTE 

I  was  glad  of  the  ride.  Traveling  is  such  good  fun,  save  that 
nothing  can  be  speedy  enough  to  suit  father.  He  has  been  in 
a  fidget  all  the  way. 

GUDULA 

What  is  doing? 

CHARLOTTE 

I  don't  know,  but  it  must  be  something  pleasant.  I  never  saw 
father  so  well  pleased  before.    Grannie,  may  I  stay  with  you? 


46  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

GUDULA 

And  welcome  a  thousand  times,  my  child — if  only  poor  quarters 
will  do  you,  my  little  princess.    Where  is  your  baggage? 

CHARLOTTE 

In  the  fond  of  the  coach,  Grannie.    Also  I  have  a  maid  with  me. 

GUDULA 
{ringing) 
Won't  your  father  put  up  here? 

CHARLOTTE 

He  has  taken  lodgings  in  the  Swan. 

{Enter  LizziE.)  if 

GUDULA 

Lizzie,  see  to  the  baggage.  Let  Rose  tidy  up  our  guest-room. 
Missy  will  bide  with  us.  Put  up  her  maid  in  the  room  next 
to  yours.     {Exit  Lizzie.) 

CHARLOTTE 

There  is  another  big  trunk  on  top  of  father's  traveling  coach. 

GUDULA 

You  travel  with  two  coaches?  Why,  the  Landgrave  of  Hesse  is 
content  with  one ! 

CHARLOTiii 

It's  on  account  of  all  the  new  dresses  father  gave  me  for  the 
journey. 

GUDULA 

Well,  he  wants  to  make  the  most  of  his  beautiful  child,  nor  do  I 

blame  him,  feeling  proud  of  my  pretty  grandchild  myself. 

CHARLOTTE 

He  gave  mc  a  robe  of  state  made  of  white  satin,  with  gold  em- 
broidery and  laces. 


"First  you  will  bide  awhile  with  your  Grannie" 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  A7 

GUDULA 

Bless  me,  when  I  was  your  age  my  robe  of  state  was  just  a  flow- 
ered print.    But  take  your  hat  off ;  let  me  help  you. 

CHARLOTTE 

Thank  you,  Grannie ! 

GUDULA 

A  robe  of  state  for  such  a  young  thing — what  will  it  profit  you 
in  Frankfort? 

CHARLOTTE 

I'm  sure  I  can't  tell.  Father  is  acting  mysteriously — perhaps  we 
are  going  on  to  some  other  town. 

GUDULA 

First  you  will  bide  a  while  with  your  Grannie.  Wait  a  moment 
and  I  will  look  after  the  guest-room.  My  old  Rose  is  not 
used  to  such  grand  visitors.     (Exit.) 

(Charlotte,  left  alone,  seats  herself  at  the  spinet  and  plays  the 
aria  of  Rosina  from  "The  Barber  of  Seville") 

(Jacob,  entering,  halts  at  the  threshold  in  surprise.  CHARLOTTE, 
perceiving  him,  interrupts  her  playing.) 

JACOB 

Pray  go  on  playing,  demoiselle.  The  old  house  hasn't  listened  to 
music  for  ever  so  long. 

CHARLOTTE 

The  dear  old  house !    I  find  that  music  befits  it  very  well. 

JACOB 

The  spinet  has  been  mute  for  years.  I  have  been  the  last,  I  be- 
lieve, who  played  it. 

CHARLOTTE 

I  don't  perform  before  musical  people — they  are  likely  to  find  me 
out.     (Rising.) 


48  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

JACOB 

Pray  go  on!  You  positively  beautify  that  old  spinet.  Play  on, 
please;  after  the  clamor  of  the  stock  market,  music  is  doubly 
soothing. 

CHARLOTTE 

It's  a  difficult  opus. 

JACOB 
Rosinni's,  I  believe. 

CHARLOTTE 

Could  you  recognize  him  through  my  strumming? 

JACOB 
Yes — admiringly. 

CHARLOTTE 

He  has  many  enemies,  but  I  adore  him. 

JACOB 

I'll  tell  the  young  maestro  that  a  beautiful  demoiselle  in  Frank- 
fort adores  him. 

CHARLOTTE 

You  know  him? 

JACOB 

He  is  my  friend  and  d  frequent  guest  at  my  house  in  Paris. 

CHARLOTTE 

You  live  in  Paris,  then  ?  And  are  Paris  bankers  on  a  friendly  foot- 
ing with  artists? 

JACOB 

You  know  me  ? 

CHARLOTTE 

To  be  sure!    You  are  Frau  Gudula's  little  Jacob. 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  49 

JACOB 

And  who  is  the  charming  demoiselle  at  the  spinet? 

CHARLOTTE 

I  have  guessed  you;  it's  your  turn  now. 

JACOB 

You  are  not  a  Frankforter? 

CHARLOTTE 

Right.    But  who  do  you  think  I  am? 

JACOB 

At  my  mother's  house  only  people  of  substance  are  calling.     On 
the  street  I  might  have  possibly  taken  you  for  an  actress. 

CHARLOTTE 

Flattering — but  wrong. 

JACOB 

Then  you  must  be  a  lady  of  fashion,  honoring  my  mother  with  her 
visit — a  Countess,  belike. 

CHARLOTTE 

But  I  may  be  one  of  your  kinsfolk. 

JACOB 

They  look  differently. 

CHARLOTTE 

{curtseying) 
Thank  you. 

GUDULA 
{entering) 
Well,  little  Jacob,  what  say  you  to  our  visitor? 

CHARLOTTE 

Monsieur  doesn't  know  aright  whether  to  take  me  for  an  actress 
or  a  countess. 


50  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

GUDULA 

Jacob !    Why,  this  is  Salomon's  little  Lottie  from  Vienna. 

CHARLOTTE 

Who  knows  what  else  Monsieur  might  have  put  me  down  for  if 
Grannie  hadn't  come  betimes. 

GUDULA 

That's  no  Monsieur.     It's  your  uncle.     Have  conduct,  girl,  and 
give  him  a  kiss,  as  is  right  and  proper. 

CHARLOTTE 

Uncle,  I  daresay,  won't  care;  he  is  used  to  another  style  of  ladies 
in  Paris. 

GUDULA 

What  manner  of  speech  is  this  for  a  young  girl!    In  my  time  one 
offered  one's  cheek  and  blushed. 

JACOB 

At  any  rate,  you  might  shake  hands. 

CHARLOTTE 

Gladly.     I'd  be  friends  with  you.     I  should  love  to  go  t*  Paris. 
You  shall  show  me  the  town  then. 

JACOB 

I  fear  they  wouldn't  "believe  me  my  beautiful  niece. 

GUDULA 

How  do  you  fancy  your  new  uncle? 

CHARLOTTE 

He  has  little  of  father — takes  more  after  you,  Grannie. 

GUDULA 

{to  Jacob) 
Did  you  meet  Salomon  on  'Change? 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  51 

JACOB 

He  was  just  flitting  past,  you  know  his  way — we  hardly  spoke. 
But  Carl  has  come.    There,  they  are  coming,  true  to  time. 

{Enter  Amschel,  Nathan,  Carl.) 

(Carl^  middle  of  the  thirties,  looks  somewhat  more  pronouncedly 
Jewish  than  the  other  four  brothers — to  his  evident  chagrin. 
His  attire  is  rich  and  very  showy,  being  patterned,  in  an  over- 
done fashion,  on  that  of  the  Italian  nobility  of  Rome  and 
Naples.  He  attempts  now  and  then  to  attitudinize,  but  to  lit- 
tle purpose.) 

CARL 

Mother!    {Embraces  her.) 

GUDULA 
{kisses  him) 
Carl,  my  boy!     {Sniffing.)     You  smell  of  scent. 

CARL 

Appropriately  enough — here  in  Jew's  Lane.  We  had  to  run  the 
gauntlet.  The  schnorrers  absolutely  mobbed  us.  The  entire 
Gass  we  had  at  our  heels;  there  was  a  crowd  of  gapers  at 
every  window. 

GUDULA 

It's  a  rare  sight  to  them,  to  see  the  sons  of  Meyer  Amschel  fore- 
gather.    How  goes  it  with  you? 

CARL 

{would  like  to  say  "middling,"  remembers  in  time  that  the 
word  lacks  distinction,  and  says  instead) 

Cost,  cost!  My  nerves  are  always  troubling  me.  This  calling  of 
ours  is  full  of  excitement — it's  too  much  of  a  strain!  And 
then  the  endless  journey  from  Naples  hither.  And  one  doesn't 
even  know  what  for.    It's  too  vexatious  for  anything. 


52  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

GUDULA 

You  are  vexed  at  every  trifle. 

CARL 

How  are  you,  Mother? 

GUDULA 

Too  well  to  wish  for  better  things.  I  live  at  peace  in  my  little 
house. 

CARL 

To  be  sure  the  house  is  snug  enough,  but  on  too  humble  a  footing 
for  our  mother. 

GUDULA 
I  lack  nothing. 

CARL 

Our  mother  should  have  a  beautiful  mansion  in  an  exclusive  neigh- 
borhood. 

AMSCHEL 

That's  exactly  what  I  bought  for  her,  but  she  would  have  none 
of  it. 

GUDULA 
No,  no,  old  furniture  must  not  be  moved.    Besides,  this  is  a  house 
of  good  report,  and  I'm  afraid  that  luck  will  turn  on  my  chil- 
dren if  I  turn  my  back  on  the  house. 

NATHAN 

There  is  commonsense  in  Carl's  proposal.  One  must  consider  pub- 
lic opinion.  There  is  no  lack  of  aristocratic  mansions  in  the 
market — at  reasonable  prices 

GUDULA 
{very  energetically) 
In  this  house  I  lived  with  your  father  many  years  in  all  happiness. 
In  this  house  I  gave  birth  to  all  my  children;  here  I  mourned 
for  my  good  Amschel — I  won't  budge. 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  53 

CARL 
Then  take  at  least  a  man-servant — it  looks  so  pauvre  to  have 
only  old  Rose  answer  the  bell. 

GUDULA 

I  will  have  no  footman  in  my  house.  It  won't  do  for  an  old 
Jewess. 

{The  noise  of  children  laughing  and  romping  in  the  lane  is  heard.) 

CARL 
(nervously) 
What  on  earth  is  this  frightful  alley  up  to  now? 

CHARLOTTE 

(at  the  window,  laughing) 
Father  stands  at  the  porch  throwing  pennies  to  the  children. 

GUDULA 

That  just  looks  like  my  son  Salomon. 

CARL 

And  to  think  that  he  dragged  us  hither  from  all  the  four  comers 
of  the  globe,  just  to  keep  us  waiting  until  he  is  through  fooling 
with  the  gutter  snipes. 

(Salomon  enters  in  a  rush.  He  is  two  years  the  junior  of 
Amschel,  haggard,  full  of  briskness  and  bustle.  He  is  dressed 
in  a  dark  frock-coat,  resplendent  with  decorations.  His  great 
exemplar  is  Prince  Metternich,  whom  he  unconsciously  at' 
tempts  to  copy,  with  indifferent  results.) 

SALOMON 

Good  day,  Mother!  (Kisses  her.)  Pardon  me  for  having  kept 
you  waiting!  I  had  to  call  at  the  Austrian  Embassy  on  a  mat- 
ter of  first-rate  importance.  (To  his  mother:)  Well,  get  every- 
thing ready  for  a  two-hours'  ride  across  country  to-morrow. 
(To  the  brothers:)  You  are  all  coming. 


54  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

AMSCHEL 

You  can't  have  convoked  the  entire  family  just  for  a  picnic  out  of 
doors  ? 

SALOMON 

Possess  your  soul  in  peace  and  you  will  see  what's  at  the  goal  of 
our  drive.    How  goes  it? 

AMSCHEL 

Well,  I  don't  have  to  worry  exactly  about  my  daily  bread. 

SALOMON 

{surveying  his  portly  form) 
Evidently  not.    Any  mail  for  me? 

(GuDULA  hands  him  several  envelopes.) 

SALOMON 

Thank  you,  Mother.  I  envy  you  your  little  house  and  the  Lane. 
(Opens  the  envelopes  and  examines  their  contents.)  A  draft 
of  four  thousand  dollars  from  Orenheimer,  Hamburg.  Thanks, 
I  wouldn't  accept  for  four  thousand  farthings  over  their  sig- 
nature. {To  Nathan:)  And  how  is  your  lordship?  How  is 
business  ? 

NATHAN 
Nothing  to  complain  of. 

SALOMON 
{reading  another  dispatch) 
Columbia  1200  at  sixty-six  and  a  half, — very  well,  I'll  take  that 
lot.    Amschel,  you  lend  me  this  evening  a  young  man  to  take 
dictation.     Hello,  Carl!     {They  shake  hands.)     Strange,  the 
older  you  get,  the  more  of  a  Frankforter  you  look. 

CARL 

{annoyed) 
Others  don't  take  that  view.     Only  the  other  day  His  Holiness 
the  Pope  told  me  that  I'm  getting  completely  Italianized  in 
my  looks  and  bearing. 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  55 

SALOMON 

Italianized?  I  see  His  Holiness  means  to  borrow.  Ah,  Little 
Jacob!  Well,  lad,  how  is  life  in  Paris?  How  is  the  frail 
sisterhood?    And  how  about  that  French  Government  loan? 

JACOB 

I  may  possibly  be  approached  shortly. 

SALOMON 

Possibly!  The  French  Ambassador  at  Vienna  has  been  sounding 
me  for  the  last  six  months.  Rest  assured,  we'll  get  the  loan. 
Well,  Mother,  what  say  you  to  our  little  Lottie?  Are  you 
pleased  ? 

CARL 

Have  I  come  all  the  way  from  Naples  to  hear  what  mother  thinks 
of  Lottie? 

NATHAN 

Won't  you  tell  us  at  last  why  you  put  us  to  the  trouble  of  coming? 

SALOMON 

{beaming  at  his  brothers  with  a  smile  of  triumph) 

You  seem  to  be  curious.     {He  draws  a  large  sealed  envelope  from 

out  of  his  breast  pocket.)     What  think  you  does  it  contain? 

CARL 
{dryly) 
A  letter,  I  suppose. 

SALOMON 
A  gift  for  all  of  us!     {The  brothers  in  their  concern  are  crowding 
around  Salomon.    To  Gudula:)    Baroness,  I  have  the  honor 
to  hand  you  a  patent  of  nobility  from  the  Vienna  Chancellor  of 
State  which  raises  us  all  to  the  hereditary  rank  of  Barons. 

AMSCHEL 
Donnerwetterl 


56  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

GUDULA 

Children,  my  eyes  are  failing — I  can't  read. 

NATHAN 

Show  me!  {He  opens  the  letter,  all  crowd  around  him  and  look 
over  his  shoulder.)  Right.  The  Emperor  has  bestowed  a 
Barony  upon  us. 

CARL 
My  smelling  salts — I  am  fainting.     {He  reclines  in  a  chair,  lifting 
his  flagon.) 

NATHAN 

Salomon,  that  was  a  master-stroke  of  yours! 

SALOMON 

Well,  Mother,  what  say  you? 

GUDULA 

Children,  I  can't  help  it — it  makes  me  laugh.  Of  course,  I  am 
glad  for  your  sakes  and  so  would  have  been  my  Amschel  selig, 
but  I  pray  you,  don't  get  conceited,  whatever  you  do. 

CHARLOTTE 

And  throughout,  the  entire  journey  you  did  not  drop  the  slightest 
hint  of  it? 

SALOMON 

I  do  not  talk  about  matters  pending. 

AMSCHEL 

I  am  a  Baron !  Why  didn't  you  tell  us  on  'Change  within  every- 
body's hearing? 

SALOMON 

Would  you  have  me  shout  the  news  from  the  housetops?  We'll 
publish  the  fact  without  noise  and  in  a  dignified  manner — in 
keeping  with  our  rank! 

GUDULA 

Little  Jacob,  have  you  nothing  to  say? 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  57 

JACOB 

I  am  wondering — a  title  more  or  less — does  it  really  make  much 
of  a  difference? 

SALOMON 

No  inward  difference,  as  we  five  know — it's  an  outward  token  of 
our  station  in  society.    You  are  an  exacting  young  man. 

JACOB 

When  I  was  a  boy,  only  a  little  while  ago,  they  shouted  "hep, 
hep"  in  the  Lane,  right  in  front  of  our  house. 

NATHAN 

Just  so!  They  won't  dare  to  do  that  now.  I  shall  dispatch  at 
once  a  special  courier  to  my  family  in  London. 

CARL 

And  I  to  Naples. 

SALOMON 

Needless — the  official  communication  is  already  on  its  way  from 
Vienna  to  Paris,  London  and  Naples. 

NATHAN 

I  should  have  preferred  to  advise  the  London  public  in  my  own 
way. 

SALOMON 

Run  along  now,  little  Lottie,  there  is  business  to  be  talked  over. 

CHARLOTTE 

Auf  Wiedersehen.     {Off.) 

SALOMON 

Pray  Mother,  you  stay  with  us.  Now  that  we  are  en  famille,  it  is 
of  course  clear  to  all  of  you  that  we  did  not  get  this  for 
nothing?    Knighthood  costs  blood  or  money. 

NATHAN 

If  I  know  our  Salomon  aright,  he  didn't  shed  for  it  any  blood 
on  the  battlefield. 


58  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

AMSCHEL 

Let's  hear  the  worst — ^what  did  it  cost? 

SALOMON 

I  have  been  making  preparations  for  a  long  time,  as  you  will  read- 
ily understand.  There  are  several  expense  accounts:  First,  en- 
tertainments and  presents;  secondly,  a  rather  large  sum  lent  to 
a  person  of  high  estate — which  will  not  be  repaid.  Further- 
more, a  donation  toward  the  building  of  the  Cathedral  of  the 
Sacred  Heart.  The  expense  account  will  reach  you.  The 
total  is  pretty  large 

NATHAN 

Well,  we  are  six  to  share  in  it. 

JACOB 

I  propose  we  take  Mother's  share  upon  ourselves. 

GUDULA 

Nix — I  pay  my  way. 

CARL 

The  article  would  have  been  cheaper  in  Italy. 

SALOMON 

Cheapness  in  that  line  means  always  flimsiness.  We  can  afford 
the  best. 

AMSCHEL 

By  rights  the  assessments  ought  to  be  graded  according  to  age — 
the  youngest  should  pay  more  because  they  will  enjoy  the  title 
longer. 

CARL 

We'll  pay  in  six  equal  shares  and  let  it  go  at  that. 

SALOMON 

There  is  another  afiFair  of  first  importance  to  be  discussed.  You 
all  know  the  young  Duke  of  Taunus? 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  59 

AMSCHEL 

Not  personally,  but  I  know  his  signature. 

GUDULA 

I  have  seen  him,  both  child  and  youth,  taking  his  airing  a-horse- 
back  on  the  Bockenheimer  highroad,  a  handsome,  proper  young 
man. 

JACOB 

He  frequently  visits  Paris.    I  know  him  to  be  fond  of  amusement. 

SALOMON 

He  has  been  my  guest  at  Vienna.  A  charming  cavalier — and 
rather  attentive  to  my  Lottie. 

GUDULA 

You  are  all  looking  up  too  high  in  choosing  your  company ! 

SALOMON 

Well,  this  Duke  of  Taunus  is  deep  in  debt. 

AMSCHEL 

Meaning,  he  has  more  creditors  than  subjects. 

SALOMON 

When  he  came  home  from  exile  after  Napoleon's  abdication,  he 
found  triumphal  arches  but  empty  treasure-chests.  I  should 
think  he  hasn't  been  over-prosperous  ever  since — novir  he  is  try- 
ing to  mend  his  state.  He  has  made  me  overtures  about  a 
twelve-million-dollar  loan. 

NATHAN 

How  will  he  pay  it  ? 

SALOMON 

I  have  been  thinking  of  a  lottery  loan,  the  principal  to  be  repay- 
able in  forty  years. 

CARL 

And  if  he  doesn't  keep  terms? 


60  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

SALOMON 
I  have  no  intention  to  retain  the  lottery  tickets — the  only  thing 
we'll  hold  on  to  will  be  the  commission.    We'll  sell  the  tickets 
on  'Change,  excepting,  possibly,  one  which  we'll  keep  under 
glass  and  frame  to  memorialize  the  transaction. 

AMSCHEL 

He  has  the  reputation  of  a  spendthrift,  playing  Louis  the  Fifteenth 
in  his  miniature  castle  on  the  Taunus. 

CARL 

Looks  like  a  risky  business. 

NATHAN 

I  don't  know  if  the  investment  be  a  proper  one,  if  the  man's  a 
loose  liver. 

SALOMON 

He  must  reform — under  guarantee. 


What  guarantee? 
A  match. 
With  whom? 


NATHAN 


SALOMON 


NATHAN 


SALOMON 

{turning  to  Gudula) 
With  my  daughter  Lottie. 

AMSCHEL 

The  Duke  of  Taunus  marry  your  daughter!    Absurd. 

SALOMON 

I  am  well  aware  of  the  difficulties  in  the  way. 

NATHAN 

People  will  resent  it.     Climbing,  they  will  call  it. 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  61 

SALOMON 

Exactly — that's  what  it  is.  It's  my  fixed  intention  to  have  my 
family  pass  at  par  everywhere. 

NATHAN 

A  reigning  Duke  your  son-in-law!    You  are  a  visionary. 

SALOMON 

Let  me  remind  you:  thirty  years  ago  the  son  of  an  unknown  at- 
torney came  to  Paris  from  a  little  island  nobody  had  ever  heard 
of,  to  conquer,  first  Paris,  then  France,  then  half  of  Europe. 
In  this  age  of  ours  everything  is  possible.  Mother,  what  say 
you? 

GUDULA 
I  am  afraid  of  you.  My  grandfather  was  a  packman  in  Neustadt 
on  the  Taunus.  There  he  made  the  rounds,  laden  with  his 
bundles — and  that's  where  my  granddaughter  is  to  drive  as 
duchess  in  her  coach?  {Roughly.)  No,  I'll  have  no  hand  in 
this !'  Do  what  you  like,  but  leave  me  out  of  the  game.  ( Goes 
off.) 

{A  pause  of  embarrassed  silence.) 

AMSCHEL 
We'll  consider  the  matter  overnight. 

SALOMON 

I  have  considered.  To-morrow  morning  I  am  going  to  drive  with 
Lottie  to  Neustadt  Castle.    You  may  come  if  you  like. 

NATHAN 

We  must  think — ^we  must  think.    Come  Carl  and  Amschcl ! 

SALOMON 

Bide  a  while,  Jacob!  {Takes  the  chessboard  from  the  drawer. 
The  three  others  withdraw  rearward,  where  they  converse  in 
undertones.) 


62  THE  FIVE  FRJXKFORTERS 

SALOMON 

I  must  have  a  little  diversion.    Let's  play  a  game  of  chess. 

JACOB 

(taking  a  chair) 
Salomon,  you  are  unmindful;  the  happiness  of  your  daughter  is  at 
stake. 

SALOMON 

She  likes  him  well  enough.  And  then,  "happiness" — was  heisst 
dasf  She  may  live  happy  with  a  prince  and  unhappy  with  a 
clerk,  also  she  might  live  happy  with  a  clerk  and  unhappy  with 
a  prince — you  can't  reduce  happiness  to  figures.  {He  settles 
in  his  chair  and  says  with  a  touch  of  comfortable  self -derision:) 
Had  I  not  been  made  a  Baron  a  quarter  of  an  hour  ago,  I'd 
say:  You  are  meschugge. 

CURTAIN. 


ACT  II. 

The  ducal  castle-grounds  of  Neustadt-on-the-Taunus,  laid  out  tm 
the  style  of  Versailles.  The  hedges  are  evenly  trimmed,  in  the 
baskets  roses  are  in  flower,  the  rearward  vista  discloses  the  ar- 
bor ed  walks  of  the  castle.  The  curtain  rises  over  Madam  de 
St.  Georges  in  a  swing.  Baron  Seulberg  swinging  her. 
Princess  Eveline  in  an  armchair.  The  young  Duke  Gus- 
TAVE  lies  reclining  in  a  restful  attitude  against  a  grassy  eleva- 
tion of  the  sod. 

ST.  GEORGES 

{a  mondaine  of  twenty-six) 
Not  so  high,  dear  Baron,  I  am  giddy! 

GUSTAVE 

(a  dandified  grand  seigneur  of  thirty,  blase  but  not  outworn) 
You  swing  our  divinity  to  still  loftier  heights,  Seulberg — I,  your 
Sovereign,  command  it. 

seulberg 
An  order  of  state  which  I  execute  right  willingly.  Your  Highness. 

ST.  GEORGES 

Highness,  I  thought  you  asleep? 

GUSTAVE 

That's  where  you  underrate  your  pater  patriae.  1  rest  inclined 
against  this  meadow-bank  to  contemplate  the  world  from  the 
ant's  perspective. 

ST.  GEORGES 

And  what  do  you  see? 

63 


64  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

GUSTAVE 

Only  a  tiresome  stretch  of  blue  heavens  most  advantageously  broken 
by  your  charming  personality. 

ST.  GEORGES 

Seulberg,  I  implore  you,  not  too  high! 

GUSTAVE 

Seulberg,  I  command  you,  higher.  I  see  the  shapely  limbs  of  the 
countess  and  think  myself  in  heaven — or  at  a  place  more  heav- 
enly still,  in  Paris,  at  Tortonis — I  am  drinking  sorbet,  I  hear 
the  rustling  of  laces,  I  scent  the  odor  of  lorettes 

EVELINE 

{laughing) 
Bravo,  bravo  J 

GUSTAVE 

Do  not  laugh,  sweet  cousin,  but  rather  look  sour,  in  keeping  with 
the  family  tradition. 

EVELINE 

I  would  like  to  try  the  swing  myself. 

GUSTAVE 

If  you  are  caught  at  it  by  your  father,  my  much  cherished  uncle, 
he  will  invoke  the  family  curse  and  send  you  to  a  convent. 

ST.   GEORGES 
{jumping  off) 
There  now — I  won't  put  myself  on  exhibition  any  longer.     Seul- 
berg, you  have  worked  the  swing  like  a  savage! 

GUSTAVE 

Count  Seulberg,  you  have  earned  my  commendation.  Your  swing- 
ing has  earned  your  promotion.  I  am  considering  your  fitness 
for  the  vacant  post  of  Minister  of  Finance. 

SEULBERG 

My  powers  of  balancing,  I  am  afraid,  won't  suffice. 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  65 

EVELINE 

Gustave,  I  am  afraid  you  overrate  the  state  of  your  finances  by 
suggesting  that  they  require  a  minister  for  their  administration. 

GUSTAVE 

Not  at  all,  sweet  cousin,  I  stand  in  urgent  need  of  a  Minister  of 
Finance  to  make  my  deficit  show  to  advantage. 

ST.   GEORGES 

Do  you  think,  Highness,  that  matters  will  improve,  if  you  are 
lying  here,  star-gazing  and  passing  medisante  remarks  about 
me? 

GUSTAVE 

It  is  my  sovereign  will  to  lie  here  and  to  contemplate  the  sky, 
until  my  luck  has  changed. 

ST.  GEORGES 

How  is  that  to  come  about? 

GUSTAVE 

My  major-domo.  Count  Fehrenberg,  is  in  Frankfort  on  a  diplo- 
matic mission.     I  expect  him  every  minute. 

EVELINE 

Your  expression  is  apt,  but  unworthy  of  our  serene  ancestors. 
What  think  you  would  Erwin-with-the-Harelip  or  Frederik 
Carl  the  Contrite  have  said  to  it?    They  didn't  borrow. 

GUSTAVE 

They  didn't  have  to.  When  hard  up  for  cash,  they  took  post  in  a 
secluded  castle  on  the  highroad  and  invited  the  passing  mer- 
chant adventurers,  regardless  of  creed,  to  a  brief  conference — 
after  half  an  hour  or  so  they  were  hard  up  for  cash  and  our 
ancestors  jocund. 

EVELINE 

But  my  dear  Gustave,  why  don't  you  do  likewise? 


66  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

GUSTAVE 

Measures  like  that  are  prohibited  within  the  German  Federation, 
as  exceeding  just  a  little  our  sovereign  rights. 

CHAMBER-VALET 
Privy  Councillor  von  Yssel. 

GUSTAVE 

Request  the  Privy  Councillor  to  come  here. 

(Valet  off.) 

GUSTAVE 

I  am  afraid  he  w^ill  be  grave — and  tedious.  Out  of  tenderness  for 
you,  ladies,  I  give  you  leave  to  withdraw^  from  the  presence, 
putting  you  under  the  protecting  care  of  Baron  Seulberg. 

(  Privy  Councillor  von  Yssel,  a  rotund  little  man,  enters,  bow- 
ing to  GuSTAVE,  to  the  retiring  ladies,  and  to  Seulberg.) 

GUSTAVE 

Well,  my  dear  Privy  Councillor,  what  news? 

YSSEL 

I  regret.  Your  Highness,  to  cloud  a  fine  day  for  you,  but  I  am 
bringing  the  balance  of  the  budget. 

GUSTAVE 
{seats  himself  on  the  swing  and  slowly  sets  it  into  motion) 
I  am  prepared  for  the  worst.    Pray,  be  brief. 

YSSEL 

After  the  death  of  His  Highness,  your  late  uncle,  the  finances  of 
the  duchy  were  already  in  an  unfavorable  condition. 

GUSTAVE 

I  presume  that  under  my  regime  they  have  become  hopeless? 

YSSEL 
{bowing) 
Your  Highness  have  spoken  truly. 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  67 

GUSTAVE 

Now,  how  do  you  account  for  that? 

YSSEL 

The  personal  expenditure  of  Your  Highness  while  abroad  in  Paris 
and  Vienna  has  been  exorbitant. 

GUSTAVE 

I  admit  that  my  amusements  from  a  financial  view,  and  possibly 
from  a  moral  one,  exceeded  the  legitimate  limit. 

YSSEL 

Large  liabilities  must  shortly  be  met  by  the  state — and  the  ducal 
exchequer  is  practically  empty. 

GUSTAVE 

{jumping  from  the  swing) 

True,  my  dear  Privy  Councillor,  something  must  be  done  to  meet 
emergencies.  You  impress  me  as  a  man  of  trained  powers  of 
imagination — have  the  goodness  to  invent  a  new  tax. 

YSSEL 

Your  Highness,  I  am  momentarily  at  my  wits*  end. 

GUSTAVE 

Couldn't  we  print  some  elegant  new  banknotes,  after  the  latest 
French  pattern,  black  lettering  with  red  arabesks?  Something 
should  be  done,  anyway,  to  promote  within  our  territory  that 
new  art  of  engraving  on  stone. 

CHAMBER-VALET 

Major-domo  Count  Fehrenberg!     {Ushers  him  in.) 

FEHRENBERG 

{a  stately  beau  in  his  fifties,  walking  with  a  slight 
forward  incline) 

I  beg  your  pardon.  Highness,  for  the  delay;  I  felt  obliged  the 
other  night  to  accept  the  invitation  of  the  newly  created  Barons. 


68  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

GUSTAVE 

Your  report,  pray,  which  no  doubt  will  interest  our  dear  Privy 
Councillor  too. 

FEHRENBERG 

I  am  truly  grateful  to  Your  Highness  for  having  entrusted  me 
with  this  interesting  mission,  which  afforded  me  an  oppor- 
tunity  

GUSTAVE 

Your  impressions  later.    What  have  you  accomplished  ? 

FEHRENBERG 

No  final  results  as  yet,  of  course.  Only  preliminaries  have  been 
discussed,  but  I  gained  the  impression  that  Messieurs  the  Court 
Bankers  look  favorably  upon  the  idea  of  a  lottery  loan.  See- 
ing that  the  gentlemen  desired  a  conference  with  Your  High- 
ness, I  invited  them  to  luncheon  at  the  Castle. 

GUSTAVE 

Invited  them  to  luncheon — did  you  deem  that  really  necessary? 

FEHRENBERG 

I  know  Your  Highness  desires  a  speedy  settlement  of  negotiations. 
Besides,  the  invitation  will  be  taken  as  a  compliment,  not  only 
to  the  Frankfort  gentlemen,  but  to  all  your  Jewish  subjects. 

GUSTAVE 

{to  Yssel) 
Have  I  any  Jewish  subjects  ? 

YSSEL 
{searching  his  memory) 
We  have  a  certain  Rosenfeld. 

GUSTAVE 

Well,  let's  hope  Rosenfeld  will  be  pleased. 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  69 

FEHRENBERG 

Both  ladies  of  the  house  have  joined  the  party,  which  may  arrive 
any  moment. 

GUSTAVE 

My  dear  Privy  Councillor,  may  I  ask  you  to  give  orders  to  the 
steward  to  be  ready  for  the  caravan  when  it  arrives? 

YSSEL 

At  Your  Highness'  command.     (Exit.) 

FEHRENBERG 

Have  Your  Highness  further  commands  for  me? 

GUSTAVE 

You  may  unpack  now  your  bag  of  anecdotes  concering  your  late 
hosts. 

FEHRENBERG 

I  will  do  so,  my  liege  lord,  if  the  distinction  be  conferred  upon  me 
of  keeping  you  company  over  a  bottle  of  that  choice  Hoch- 
heimer  dating  from  the  comet — year  of  1811. 

GUSTAVE 

What,  drink  at  this  early  hour! 

FEHRENBERG 

It  is  a  hallowed  hour  for  choice  wines. 

GUSTAVE 

Have  your  bottle,  then. 

(Chamber- Valet  enters  with  the  bottle.) 

GUSTAVE 

(to  the  Valet) 
How  did  you  know? 

FEHRENBERG 

Convinced  of  your  desire  to  reward  me,  I  have  already  given  orders. 


70  THE  FIFE  FRJNKFORTERS 

(They  sit  down,  the  Valet^  after  uncorking  the  bottle  and 
pouring,  goes  off.) 

GUSTAVE 

Poor  fellow,  that  must  have  been  an  unpleasant  mission  for  you! 

FEHRENBERG 

On  the  contrary,  it  was  very  amusing.  First  the  walk  through 
Jew's  Lane,  where  one  meets  people  that  are  not  to  be  encoun- 
tered in  a  life-time  elsewhere.  And  in  this  improbable  lane, 
with  its  exotic  smells,  our  Court  Bankers  are  keeping  house. 

GUSTAVE 

It  must  be  affectation  that  prompts  them  to  meet  there? 

FEHRENBERG 

Affectaion,  mingled  with  superstition.  They  are  all  interested  in 
that  lottery  scheme,  and  that's  why  the  five  convened  in  Frank- 
fort. 

GUSTAVE 

It  may  be  their  elevation  to  the  Barony  that  brought  them  to- 
gether.   As  for  Salomon,  I  know  him  from  Vienna. 

FEHRENBERG 

He  seems  to  take  the  lead  in  all  family  affairs.  It  was  he  who 
procured  their  ennoblement. 

GUSTAVE 

Well,  what  had  he  to  say? 

FEHRENBERG 

He  was  very  discreet  in  his  utterances,  but  all  the  more  prodigal 
with  his  gestures. 

GUSTAVE 

I  know,  his  bad  manners  are  so  perfectly  free  from  every  trace  of 
embarrassment  as  to  impress  one  almost  like  good  manners. 
And  the  other  four? 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  7\ 

FEHRENBERG 

They  screen  themselves  in  all  politeness  behind  Salomon. 

GUSTAVE 
And  Salomon? 

FEHRENBERG 
He  impresses  me  as  hugging  some  secret  project  to  his  breast.     I 
believe  you  will  do  well  to  step  cautiously  with  these  gentle- 
men.   They  are  evidently  eager  to  overreach  us. 

GUSTAVE 

Then  it  must  be  our  ambition  to  foil  them. 

FEHRENBERG 

That's  why  I  invited  them  here.  They  will  feel  out  of  their  ele- 
ment here,  whereas  at  their  offices  they  have  us  at  a  disadvan- 
tage.    If  they  lend  at  all,  it  will  be  here. 

GUSTAVE 

Why  shouldn't  they?  It's  their  business  to  finance  reigning  princes. 
I  begin  to  entertain  a  belief  that  Divinity  created  them  espe- 
cially for  this  providential  mission. 

FEHRENBERG 

And  my  dear  Duke,  if  they  refuse? 

GUSTAVE 

Then,  my  dear  Major-Domo,  I  cede  my  sovereignty  rights  to 
Prussia,  and  with  the  proceeds  I'll  live  in  Paris  like  a  gentle- 
man. 

FEHRENBERG 

Messieurs  the  Court  Bankers  might  possibly  be  inclined  to  take  the 
dukedom  off  our  hands. 

GUSTAVE 

Possibly.    I  can  easily  conceive  of  a  Salomon  the  First. 


72  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

FEHRENBERG 

Salomon  the  Second,  I  beg  your  pardon — there  has  been  already  a 
reigning  prince  of  that  name. 

GUSTAVE 

Did  you  say  you  invited  the  ladies  of  the  family? 

FEHRENBERG 

There  are  only  two :  the  mother — sort  of  arch-dame  of  the  house — r 
makes  the  best  impression  because  most  genuine.  And  Solo- 
mon's daughter — an  amiable  little  Viennese,  invited  to  miti- 
gate the  severities  of  financial  negotiations. 

GUSTAVE 

I  know  her,  a  blond  miss  with  her  nose  retrouss^  in  the  face  of  all 
racial  traditions. 

FEHRENBERG 

There  will  be  difficulties  about  the  fare  at  lunch.  In  their  diet  the 
old  lady  and  one  of  the  sons  adhere  strictly  to  religious  precept. 

GUSTAVE 

My  cook  has  served  for  five  years  in  the  domestic  establishment  of 
French  royalty — I  am  afraid  he  didn't  learn  there  the  art  of 
preparing  Kosher  cuisine. 

VALET 

(announcinff) 

His  Highness,  the  Count  Palatine  Christopher  Maurice.     (Off.) 

MAURICE 
(biff,  massive,  ineleffant) 
Your  Dilection,  I  see,  are  guzzling  in  broad  daylight. 

GUSTAVE 

Perhaps  your  Dilection  may  be  pleased  to  accept  a  glass  or  so? 

MAURICE 

Well,  rather!  Pass  the  bottle!  Good  morning,  Count  Fehren- 
berg.    (Drinks.)    Ah!    They  said  you  were  expecting  visitors? 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  73 

GUSTAVE 

{smiling) 
Quite  a  number. 

MAURICE 

Good!     Your  court  is  getting  tiresome.     Who's  coming?     The 
Darmstadters,  or  your  kinsfolk  from  Kassel? 

GUSTAVE 

I  don't  believe  these  gentry  are  any  relatives  of  mine. 

MAURICE 
Do  you  mean  to  have  another  general  handshaking  with  the  burg- 
ers?    I  think  every  one  of  your  subjects  must  have  had  his 
turn  already. 

GUSTAVE 

I  am  expecting  visitors  from  Frankfort. 

MAURICE 

I  have  no  relish  for  Frankforters.     Who  are  they? 

GUSTAVE 
Our  court  bankers — and  their  family. 

MAURICE 

{laughing) 
The  Frankfort  Jews?     Why,  Gustave,  are  you  mad?     I  have 
heard  of  player-folk  being  called  to  court,  of  rope-dancers  and 
fire-eaters,  but  to  sit  at  table  with  a  parcel  of  money-lenders — 
no,  I  never  heard  the  like  in  all  my  life. 

(Eveline  enters.) 

MAURICE 

Did  you  hear  the  news?    Money-changers  from  Frankfort  are  ex- 
pected. 

EVELINE 

At  last  a  change  of  faces!    I  am  awfully  curious  to  know  them. 


74  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

MAURICE 

Well,  you  won't,  my  lass — go  to  your  room. 

EVELINE 

But  father! 

MAURICE 

I  never  in  my  life  had  speech  with  any  Jews.  Such  people  should 
be  kept  at  a  distance. 

GUSTAVE 

You  had  better  see  what  they  are  like  then. 

MAURICE 

As  a  set-ofE  I  would  advise  you  to  invite  the  court-chaplain. 

GUSTAVE 

Agreed. 

MAURICE 

Do  what  you  like — I  am  off  on  a  hare-hunt.    Adieu.     (Exit.) 

GUSTAVE 

Follow  him,  Fehrenberg,  he  is  capable  of  insulting  our  guests. 

FEHRENBERG 

Killing  a  hare  will  calm  him.     {Off.) 

EVELINE 

Did  my  father  vex  you? 

GUSTAVE 

There  is  only  one  drawback  to  the  excellent  qualities  of  my  uncle 
— he  missed  his  age  by  a  hundred  years.  So  did  I.  I  should 
have  been  born  a  century  later. 

EVELINE 

And  I? 

GUSTAVE 
{patting  her) 
You  are  just  in  time. 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  75 

EVELINE 

Yes.    It's  a  suitable  time  to  be  alive,  I  think. 

GUSTAVE 

I  am  thankful  to  Providence  to  have  provided  me  with  such  a 
contemporary. 

EVELINE 

Gustave,  I  am  seriously  concerned  about  your  future. 

GUSTAVE 

Glad  to  hear  that.    I  am  not. 

EVELINE 

But  what  will  you  do  in  your  present  embarrassments? 

GUSTAVE 

The  Frankforters  may  come  to  the  rescue.    The  gentlemen  are 
vain  and  fond  of  flattery.    You  must  help. 

EVELINE 

Gladly.     I  am  burning  with  curiosity  to  see  them. 

{Enter    Fehrenberg.      Shortly    thereafter    Seulberg    and    St. 
Georges.  ) 

fehrenberg 
A  traveling  coach  is  drawing  near  the  portal. 

GUSTAVE 

The  Frankforters? 

FEHRENBERG 

Most  likely,  though  the  coach  does  not  look  that  way. 

GUSTAVE 

Shall  we  go  to  meet  them? 

FEHRENBERG 

That  would  impress  them  with  a  sense  of  their  importance.    Bet- 
ter stay. 


76  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

GUSTAVE 

Madam  de  St.  Georges,  you  will  charge  yourself  with  doing  the 
honors.  Baron  Seulberg,  you  will  see  to  it  that  luncheon  is 
served  in  right  royal  fashion. 

VALET 
{announcing) 
Their  Highness  the  Prince  and  Princess  of  Klausthal-Agordo  and 
the  Right  Reverend  the  Canon  of  Rouen. 

FEHRENBERG 

The  old  grand  seigneur  with  his  suite  and  our  Frankfort  Jews — 
there  will  be  complications! 

GUSTAVE 

Our  luncheon  is  imperilled !  Fehrenberg,  I  expect  of  your  adroit- 
ness that  you  will  interpose  between  our  guests. 

FEHRENBERG 

We  won't  give  up  hope  that  the  Prince  and  his  retinue  will  take 
their  leave  before  luncheon. 

GUSTAVE 

D«  you  know  this  Canon  that  travels  with  them? 

FEHRENBERG 

Certainly.  He  administers  spiritual  consolation  to  the  Princess  by 
courting  her  in  a  quite  secular  fashion. 

GUSTAVE 
{rising) 
We  must  go  to  meet  them. 

{Enter  Prince,  a  grand  seigneur  of  fifty;  the  PRINCESS,  a  beauti- 
ful woman  of  thirty;  the  Canon,  middle  of  the  thirties.) 

PRINCE 

Just  a  salute  in  passing,  dear  cousin. 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  77 

PRINCESS 

We  didn't  wish  to  ride  past  your  residence  without  shaking  hands. 
Do  you  know  our  Canon? 

GUSTAVE 

Count  Fehrenberg  related  to  me  just  now  how  interestingly  you 
conceive  of  your  spiritual  office. 

PRINCESS 

His  changeless  fondness  for  medisance  proves  that  he  is  in  the  best 
of  health.  Good  morning,  Cousin  Eveline!  Kiss  me — you 
radiate  that  aura  of  sweet  eighteen  which  is  so  caressing  to  a 
woman  who  has  ceased  to  be  young  without  having  made  up 
her  mind  to  confess  defeat. 

FEHRENBERG 

Serene  Princess,  I 

PRINCESS 

Don't  put  yourself  to  the  constraint  of  being  nice,  Count  Fehren- 
berg— I  won't  trust  you,  whatever  you  say.  {Gives  her  hand 
to  be  kissed  to  Madam  de  St.  Georges  and  bestows  a  nod 
upon  Seulberg.) 

FEHRENBERG 

I  was  only  about  to  observe  that  the  brilliancy  of  your  grey  eyes 
is  reminiscent  of  the  beauty,  so  infinitely  dear  to  me,  of  grejr 
caviare. 

CANON 

Most  gracious  Princess,  you  may  believe  for  once  in  the  sincerity 
of  this  compliment.  Gourmandizing  comparisons,  with  our 
cavaliers,  betoken  genuine  emotion. 

GUSTAVE 

I  trust  you  will  do  us  the  honor  to  have  lunch  with  us. 

PRINCESS 

We  must  reach  Frankfort  before  night-fall. 


78  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

GUSTAVE 

What's  the  pressing  occasion,  pray? 

PRINCE 

The  last  that  is  likely  to  hurry  my  pace  for  the  balance  of  my 
life. 

GUSTAVE 

Your  Highness  is  pleased  to  mean ? 

PRINCE 

This  is  a  leave-taking  visit.    I  have  abdicated. 

GUSTAVE 

May  I  know  Your  Highness'  reasons  for  taking  such  a  step? 

PRINCE 

I  have  seen  too  much  and  lived  too  long  to  carry  on  the  jest  of 
playing  at  royalty  upon  my  thronelet  any  longer.  As  a  youth 
I  have  witnessed  in  Paris  the  barbarous  execution  of  our  bonny 
King  Louis.  I  never  could  overcome  the  shock  and  through- 
out my  reign  couldn't  get  rid  of  a  ticklish  feeling  behind  the 
collar. 

GUSTAVE 

Your  Serenity  are  possibly  a  little  morbid? 

PRINCE 

Trust  me,  dear  cousin,  it  isn't  fear.  I  simply  refuse  to  follow  the 
democratic  drift  of  this  our  age.  Henceforth  I'll  be  a  mere 
spectator,  having  wound  up  all  my  affairs — an  occupation  not 
wholly  devoid  of  interest. 

PRINCESS 

We  intend  to  take  up  residence  in  Paris. 

PRINCE 

A  landless  Prince  to  the  City  of  the  Homeless. 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  79 

CANON 

{kissing  the  hand  of  the  Princess) 
In  Paris  every  beauty  has  a  throne  of  her  own. 

FEHRENBERG 

And  our  dear  Canon  will  be  studious  to  stand  instead  of  a  whole 
retinue  in  the  service  of  beauty  re-enthroned. 

CANON 

He  also  serves  Divinity  who  serves  the  fair. 

GUSTAVE 

A  dogma  open  to  theological  criticism.  I  don't  doubt  that  our 
Princess  won't  languish  in  Paris — but  Your  Highness  are  used 
to  an  active  life. 

PRINCE 

I'll  collect  old  coins  and  read  good  books — ^if  there  are  any  left — 
I  mean  to  look  at  life  as  a  weary  cavalier  may  watch  the  play 
from  his  box — I  may  even  live  to  see  the  days  of  democracy 
pass. 

GUSTAVE 

At  an  early  opportunity  I  may  join  you  in  your  box. 

PRINCE 

You  may  rest  assured  of  a  cordial  welcome,  dear  friend,  but  it's 
too  early  for  you.  Life's  evening  does  not  begin  at  twelve  at 
noon.    Your  outlook  upon  life  cannot  be  mine. 

FEHRENBERG 

I  find  this  multicolored  life  of  our  present  age  vastly  entertain- 
ing. 

PRINCE 

But  only  consider,  dear  Count!  The  distressful  things  that  hap- 
pen every  day!  All  the  social  demarcation  lines  are  be- 
coming obliterated  fast.  Even  the  nobility  is  vulgarized.  I 
understand  that  the  Emperor  made  barons  of  his  Court  Jews. 


80  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

{A  coachman's  horn-signal  is  heard.) 

PRINCE 

What  say  you  to  such  news  from  Vienna,  dear  Duke? 

GUSTAVE 

Your  Highness,  I  can't  pass  censure  upon  the  new  barons — chiefly 
because  I  am  expecting  them  as  my  guests  this  very  minute. 

FEHRENBERG 

I  believe  the  gentlemen  from  Frankfort  are  alighting  from  their 
coach.       (Goes  off.) 

GUSTAVE 

To  be  sure,  I  did  not  expect  to  be  favored  to-day  with  the  distinc- 
tion of  your  visit,  else  I  should  have  asked  the  gentlemen  for 
another  occasion.  (To  the  Princess  arising.)  I  hope  your 
Serenity  won't  take  to  flight  on  that  account  ? 

PRINCE 

(eagerly) 
But  on  the  contrary,  dear  Duke,  I  am  glad  of  the  opportunity  to 
meet  here  the  very  people  on  whose  account  I  meant  to  make 
the  journey  to  Frankfort,  on  business.  Socially,  of  course,  I 
have  never  met  them.  I  am  all  the  more  curious  to  meet  them 
for  once  outside  of  their  own  counting-rooms. 

PRINCESS 

If  Madam  de  St.  Georges  will  first  have  the  goodness  to  assist  me 
at  my  toilette 

ST.  GEORGES 

May  I  show  the  way  to  Your  Highness?  (Off  with  the  Princess.) 
(Fehrenberg  enters  with  Nathan,  Carl  and  Salomon.) 

GUSTAVE 
(receiving  them  with  a  handshake,  to  Salomon) 
My  dear  Baron,  I  have  so  often  enjoyed  your  hospitality  in  Vienna 
that  I  am  delighted  to  welcome  you  and  your  brothers  to  my 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  81 

house. — I  don't  know  if  Your  Highness  already  knows  these 
gentlemen  ? 

PRINCE 

Certainly.    They  are  so  kind  as  to  administer  my  small  fortune. 

SALOMON 

Not  so,  Your  Highness — it  is  a  very  attractive  number  of  millions. 

PRINCE 

I  suppose  money  has  a  way  of  accumulating  in  the  course  of  cen- 
turies. 

SALOMON 

It  need  not  always  take  that  long. 

PRINCE 
(distantly)  , 

That  depends  upon  the  means — dear  Baron. 

GUSTAVE 

Where  did  you  leave  your  ladies,  gentlemen? 

NATHAN 

Our  dear  mother  begs  you  to  accept  her  excuses — she  is  not  very 
well. 

SALOMON 

My  daughter  is  driving  with  my  two  brothers.     Their  carriage 
should  be  here  at  any  moment. 

GUSTAVE 

You  have  a  long  journey  behind  you,  Herr  Ginsul.    Do  you  live 
in  Naples  or  in  Rome? 

CARL 

I  make  my  home  in  Naples,  but  I  spent  a  considerable  time  last 
winter  in  Rome. 

CANON 

How  is  the  Holy  Father? 


82  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

CARL 

His  Holiness  was  pleased  at  my  last  sojourn  to  receive  me  in  audi- 
ence. 

GUSTAVE 

You  call  often  at  the  Vatican,  don't  you? 

CARL 

Not  often  enough,  I  regret  to  say,  to  get  much  conversation  with 
the  Pope. 

GUSTAVE 

The  callings  in  life  are  perhaps  too  disparate  to  admit  of  any  real 
intimacy.  {To  Nathan:)  I  beg  to  congratulate  you  gentle- 
men upon  your  elevation  in  rank. 

PRINCE 

I  beg  to  join  in  Duke  Gustave's  felicitations. 

SALOMON 

Many  thanks,  Your  Highness.  We  were  entirely  taken  by  surprise. 
Such  a  token  of  the  Emperor's  good-will  was  utterly  unex- 
pected and  unlooked  for. 

PRINCE 

All  the  greater  the  rejoicing,  I  presume,  over  the  utterly  unex- 
pected. 

{Enter  Amschel,  Jacob,  Charlotte.) 

GUSTAVE 

(approaching  Charlotte) 
My  dear  Baroness,  I  am  happy  to  meet  you  under  my  own  roof. 

CHARLOTTE 

(curtseying) 
At  Your  Highness*  service. 

GUSTAVE 

Dear  Princess  Eveline — you  complained  about  lack  of  companion- 
ship— I  invoke  your  protection  for  this  young  lady. 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  83 

EVELINE 

{extending  her  hand) 
You  are  welcome,  Baroness. 

GUSTAVE 

Good  morning,  dear  Consul — we  are  old  acquaintances,  are  we 
not? 

AMSCHEL 

{bowing) 
Assuredly. 

GUSTAVE 

Your  Highness  has  met  the  Consul?    (Shakes  hands  with  Jacob.) 

PRINCE 

Certainly. 

AMSCHEL 

I  am  glad,  Your  Highness,  of  this  chance  meeting. 

PRINCE 

(smiling) 
Not  at  all — I  came  on  purpose  to  meet  you. 

GUSTAVE 
And  now,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  having  acquitted  myself  of  my 
hospitable  task  to  bore  you  with  salutatories,  let  each  of  us 
seek  his  personal  amusement  after  his  own  liking  until  luncheon. 
Castle  and  cellars,  chapel  and  garden-grounds,  are  yours  to 
command.  As  regards  myself,  permit/ me,  after  my  own  fash- 
ion, to  devote  myself  to  the  ladies.  (He  turns  to  Charlotte 
and  Eveline.) 

prince 
We  shall  meet  again  at  lunch  then.    Count  Fehrenberg,  have  the 
goodness  to  show  me  to  the  Princess'  apartments.     (Off  with 
Fehrenberg^  followed  by  the  Canon  and  Seulberg.) 


84  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

GUSTAVE 

(to  Charlotte) 
Your  title  of  nobility  suits  you  admirably. 

CHARLOTTE 

As  befitting,  I  daresay,  as  your  irony. 

EVELINE 

You  are  in  the  same  predicament  with  me,  Baroness.     I  never 
know  whether  my  cousin  is  serious  or  joking. 

GUSTAVE 
Most  of  the  time  I  don't  know  myself.     But  let  us  show  the 
Baroness  our  ancient  park  grounds.     ( They  walk  off  the  scene 
in  an  animated  chat,  leaving  the  brothers  alone,  to  their  mani- 
fest surprise.) 

AMSCHEL 
(looking  about  him) 
Why,  they  have  left  us  alone  J 

CARL 

(looking  after  the  retiring  group) 
Your  Lottie  interests  the  Duke  more  than  we  do. 

SALOMON 

Quite  natural.    A  young  girl  is  always  more  interesting  than  five 
full-grown  Jews. 

NATHAN 

These  people  are  very  prime,  but  their  politeness  doesn't  ring  true. 

AMSCHEL 

They  overwhelm  us  with  their  courtesy — and  yet  they  are  plainly 

making  merry  over  us. 

NATHAN 

I  feel  that  too — and  am  annoyed  at  my  annoyance. 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  85 

SALOMON 
Why,  Nathan,  that's  their  game — to  have  us  at  a  disadvantage. 
Why  do  you  think  we  were  invited  here? 

NATHAN 

The  Duke  will  overreach  you. 

SALOMON 

Will  he?    He'd  be  the  first,  I  warrant  you. 

CARL 

If  I  were  you,  I  wouldn't  talk  to  the  Duke  about  that  plan  of  yours 
— not  here,  at  any  rate.  There  is  an  oppressive  influence  about 
the  place. 

SALOMON 

The  place  will  do  as  well  as  another.    I  am  not  afraid. 

NATHAN 

These  are  matters  too  foreign  to  my  manner  of  life.  Consider, 
we  have  entered  upon  the  enemy's  camp. 

SALOMON 

What  matter?  We  have  to  struggle  for  position  wherever  ve  g» 
— except  in  Jew's  Lane. 

JACOB 

We  are  out  of  place  here — not  a  doubt  about  it.  Mother,  with 
her  usual  good  sense,  stayed  at  home. 

SALOMON 

That's  right — hang  on  to  mother's  apron-strings. 

JACOB 

I  wished  I  had  followed  my  first  impulse  and  stayed  away. 

SALOMON 

{raising  his  voice  in  the  forgetfulness  of  his  distraction) 
You  have  no  pluck!     Had  our  father  been  such  a  drop-tail  like 
you,  we'd  be  trading  in  old  coins  to  this  day  instead  of  millions. 


86  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

AMSCHEL 
{soothingly) 
Hush,  hush! 

{Enter  Fehrenberg.) 

FEHRENBERG 

I  beg  you  will  pardon  me,  gentlemen,  for  leaving  you,  but  the  old 
Prince 

AMSCHEL 

Say  no  more.  Sir.    Say  no  more.    We  didn't  notice  your  absence. 

FEHRENBERG 

May  I  show  you  over  the  Castle?  We  have  a  cabinet  of  old  coins 
and  a  collection  of  old  armor 

CARL 

I  should  like  to  see — er — the  arms. 

FEHRENBERG 

{to  Amschel) 
And  about  our  financial  affairs,  we  may  talk  at  luncheon  between 
the  desert  and  the  cheese. 

AMSCHEL 

Hardly.  Cheese  after  meat  is  disallowed  me.  {They  enter  the 
house.) 

{From  the  rear,  the  DuKE^  Charlotte.) 

CHARLOTTE 

I  like  the  old,  old  trees  in  the  park  so  much  more  than  those 
trimmed  hedges. 

GUSTAVE 

Exactly  my  own  taste.  I  have  romped  there  as  a  boy.  When  I 
think  of  home  abroad,  I  don't  visualize  the  Castle — only  the 
ancient  trees. 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  87 

CHARLOTTE 

Their  spell  does  not  seem  to  have  a  strong  hold  on  you.    You  are 
always  on  the  road  to  Vienna  or  Paris. 

GUSTAVE 

Experience  and  self-examination  have  convinced  me  that  yoimg 
women  affect  me  more  strongly  than  old  trees. 

CHARLOTTE 

Your  talk  always  turns  upon  women. 


GUSTAVE 

If  men  of  my  age  talk  of  anything  else,  they  are  practicing  hypoc- 


CHARLOTTE 

At  my  home  male  talk  turns  mostly  on  other  topics. 

GUSTAVE 

The  estimable  qualities  of  your  relatives  are  quite  in  another  field 
— and  I  hope  to  profit  by  them. 

CHARLOTTE 

I  don't  know  if  you  picture  to  yourself  my  relatives  aright.     My 
Uncle  Jacob 

GUSTAVE 


I  hardly  know  him,  though  we  were  on  bowing  terms  in  Paris, 

CHARLOTTE 

I,  too,  have  just  made  his  acquaintance.     He  does  not  take  after 
his  brothers. — Why  do  you  look  at  me  so  strangely? 


GUSTAVE 


Looking  at  you  is  for  the  present  the  most  agreeable  occupation 
open  to  me. 

CHARLOTTE 

Very  well — then  you  may  look  at  pleasure. 


88  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

GUSTAVE 

I  should  like  to  make  permanent  use  of  your  permission. 

CHARLOTTE 

More  flattery!     Highness,  you  underrate  me.     Enough  of  me — 
let's  change  the  subject. 

GUSTAVE 

To  hear  is  to  obey.    How  do  you  like  the  court? 

CHARLOTTE 

The  atmosphere  is  strange  to  me.     An  atmosphere  of  masculine 
adoration. 

GUSTAVE 

Does  it  render  you  uneasy  ? 

CHARLOTTE 

Not  at  all — but  pardon  me,  I  shouldn't  care  to  live  in  that  style. 

GUSTAVE 

Is  the  style  of  your  family  any  more  to  your  liking? 

CHARLOTTE 

It  isn't  exactly  what  I  want  either.    To  walk  always  in  the  shadow 
of  our  men-folk,  as  our  women  do — no,  I  shouldn't  like  that. 

GUSTAVE 

What  are  your  wishes  for  the  future,  then? 

CHARLOTTE 

Very  vague  ones.    I  am  curiously  expecting  life — that's  all. 
{Enter  the  FiVE  Brothers  and  Count  Fehrenberg.) 

NATHAK 

{to  Fehrenberg) 
A  splendid  collection ! 


THE  FIVE  FRANKF0RTER3  89 

AMSCHEL 

{to  Salomon^  with  a  significant  glance  in  the  direction  of 
Charlotte  and  Gustave) 
Look  at  them! 

SALOMON 

As  if  I  hadn't  been  sure  my  Lottie  would  please  him! 

JACOB 

The  vernal  moods  of  St.  Cloud  are  all  over  the  castle  grounds, 
Your  Highness. 

SALOMON 

All  very  well,  but  we  didn't  come  to  discuss  vernal  moods.  Your 
Highness,  by  your  leave,  I  propose  we  proceed  to  business. 

GUSTAVE 

By  all  means — if  the  Baroness  will  excuse  us? 

SALOMON 

My  brother  Jacob  will  discuss  with  her  the  landscape — that's  what 
she  likes. 

JACOB 

Gladly — come,  Lottie! 

GUSTAVE 

Auf  Wiedersehn,  Baroness!  (Jacob  tvith  Charlotte  ojf  to  the 
park.)     Now,  gentlemen.     {They  sit  down.) 

SALOMON 

{with  a  calm  that  masks  his  suppressed  excitement) 
The  figures  in  elucidation  of  our  lottery  loan  scheme  have  been 
submitted  to  Privy  Councillor  Yssel  for  examination. 

GUSTAVE 

Spare  me  the  figures,  Herr  Baron,  I  won't  pretend  to  understand 
them,  anyway.  My  candid  interest  is  centered  wholly  upon 
the  twelve  millions. 


90  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

NATHAN 

May  I  ask  how  you  would  propose  to  invest  such  a  sum? 

GUSTAVE 
Oh,  we  shall  find  good  use  for  it — you  may  rest  assured.     Speak- 
ing generally,  I  shall  devote  it  to  the  improvement  of  my  cir- 
cumstances. 

SALOMON 

Your  Highness,  your  difficulties  are  no  secret  to  us. 

GUSTAVE 

Certainly  not.  Even  the  primitive  intelligence  of  my  subjects  per- 
ceives, that  my  deficit  stands  in  inverse — and  perverse — ratio  to 
the  extent  of  my  territories. 

SALOMON 
Now,  supposing  that  our  firm  would  advance  such  a  sum  as  you 
require — what  is  the  nature  of  the  security  you  could  offer  us? 

{A  brief  silence.) 

GUSTAVE 

Security?  Would  it  be  customary  to  offer  security  in  an  affair  of 
this  kind?  Let's  see — I  could  pledge  a  part  of  my  revenue — 
or  of  the  taxes 

FEHRENBERG 

I  must  remind  Your  Highness  that  you  have  already  anticipated 
the  next  five  years'  income 

GUSTAVE 

To  be  sure — I  forgot.    Thank  you  for  reminding  me. 

FEHRENBERG 

Gentlemen,  the  produce  of  the  Duchy  could  be  enormously  in- 
creased by  a  careful  and  prudent  administration.  There  are 
extensive  forests — some  coal — and  mineral  springs. 


"More  Flattery!  Highness, — let's  change  the  subject." 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  91 

SALOMON 

We  have  considered  that.  Lumber  and  coal  will  rise  in  value,  but 
it  takes  money  to  develop  these  properties. 

GUSTAVE 

Cannot  I  give  you  my  personal  security? 

SALOMON 

Your  Highness,  you  may  have  unconsciously  suggested  a  possible 
solution.  I  must  premise,  however,  that  such  a  guarantee,  in 
keeping  with  your  extraordinary  personality,  would  be  of  an  un- 
usual, I  may  say,  an  extraordinary  nature. 

GUSTAVE 

Mr.  Court  Banker,  you  arouse  my  curiosity. 

AMSCHEL 

{rising  in  embarrassment) 
I  beg  permission  to  withdraw  from  the  presence. 

Your  pardon.  Highness,  but  I  am  not  quite  well. 

CARL 
(likezvise  rising) 
Highness,  our  brother  Salomon  is  straying  from  the  road  of  busi- 
ness pure  and  simple  in  his  present  excursion.     I  think  I  had 
best  join  my  brother  in  a  prayer  for  leave  to  withdraw. 


The  cowards! 


SALOMON 

{in  an  undertone) 


GUSTAVE 

{wondering) 
Of  course — as  you  please.     {Exeunt  both.) 


92  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

FEHRENBERG 

If  for  any  reason  you  wish  to  be  alone ? 

GUSTAVE 

No,  stay,  my  dear  Fehrenberg! 

SALOMON 

Let  me  beg  of  you  to  stay — and  my  brother  Nathan  likewise. 

GUSTAVE 
Mr.  Court  Banker,  I  am  getting  inquisitive. 

SALOMON 

Your  Highness — I  have  your  permission  to  be  quite  candid? 

GUSTAVE 

You  have  my  command. 

SALOMON 

Your  Highness — a  sound  rearrangement  of  your  finances  is  only 
possible  through  matrimonial  alliance. 

GUSTAVE 

We  have  thought  of  that — haven't  we,    Fehrenberg?      But    we 
couldn't  find  anything  suitable. 

SALOMON 

What  would  Your  Highness  consider  suitable? 

GUSTAVE 

Youth,  charm,  beauty — and  a  great  deal  of  money. 

SALOMON 

I  can  offer  you  all  this. 

GUSTAVE 
{amused) 
You  can  ?    I  am  overwhelmed  at  the  versatility  of  your  enterprise. 
Where  have  you  found  a  lady  of  my  rank  so  admirably  fitting? 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  93 

SALOMON 

Your  Highness,  the  concept  of  equality  of  station  is  not  the  same 
in  our  age  as  during  the  preceding  ones.  You,  Highness,  grown 
to  manhood  during  the  Napoleonic  epoch  and  full  of  French 
esprit 

GUSTAVE 

Have  done  with  compliments — well? 

SALOMON 

Believing  Your  Highness,  that  your  prophetic  soul  anticipates  the 
social  developments  of  the  future 

GUSTAVE 

{interrupting  him) 
Out  with  it,  Herr  Court  Banker — whom  do  you  propose  to  me  as 
future  mother  of  the  country? 

NATHAN 

Salomon,  take  thought  if  you  had  not  better  keep  your  proposal 
to  yourself. 

SALOMON 

I  am  well  aware  of  its  boldness.  And  yet  I'll  venture  to  submit 
it,  in  correct  appreciation,  I  trust,  of  Your  Highness'  great- 
ness of  soul.  Frankly,  then,  I  propose  to  Your  Highness  a 
matrimonial  alliance  with  my  daughter  Charlotte. 

GUSTAVE 

But,  Herr  Court  Banker!  Herr  Court  Banker!  {Breaking  into 
laughter.)  Fehrenberg,  what  say  you?  What's  the  formal  re- 
sponse to  such  a  proposal,  Mr.  Major-domo? 

FEHRENBERG 
{officially) 
Y«ur  Highness,  court  etiquette  has  not  considered  such  an  emer- 
gency. 


94  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

GUSTAVE 
{with  an  especial  effort  at  politeness) 
I  admit  I  am  a  little  taken  aback.    You  see  I  am  laughing.     Bui 
you  might  have  chosen  a  moment  when  I  would  have  met  your 
proposal  with  an  abrupt  termination  of  hospitalities. 

SALOMON 

I  am  happy  to  have  divined  the  psychological  moment  for  such  a 
risky  venture  aright. 

FEHRENBERG 

Quite  so.  In  such  matters  everything  hinges  upon  the  right  mo- 
ment. I  have  been  enabled  once  to  buy  a  country-seat  in 
Baden-Baden  because  the  ace  of  diamonds  turned  up  in  the 
right  moment. 

GUSTAVE 
Well  thought  of,  my  dear  Fehrenberg — the  situation  is  certainly 
suggestive  of  a  game  at  hazard.     Herr  Court  Banker,  you  for- 
get the  principle  of  legitimacy. 

SALOMON 

We  derive  it  from  our  wealth,  which  grows  apace  and  works  for 
us  in  all  the  capitals  of  Europe. 

GUSTAVE 

I  am  far  from  despising  wealth. 

SALOMON 

An  alliance  between  our  families  will  reflect  undying  honor  upon 
our  house.  Nor  will  it  be,  I  trust,  quite  disadvantageous  to 
yours. 

GUSTAVE 

Such  a  match  is  without  precedent. 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  95 

SALOMON 

Your  Highness  will  set  the  precedent. 

NATHAN 

{to  Salomon) 
No  need  to  importune  His  Highness  for  an  immediate  decision, 
is  there? 

SALOMON 

{smiling) 
Nay,  brother,  temporizing  would  mean  defeat.    If  Your  Highness 
will  deign  to  say  "Yes,"  the  necessary  arrangements  regarding 
the  lottery  loan  will  be  made  at  our  office  to-morrow  at  noon, 
and  the  money  paid  forthwith  into  your  treasury. 

GUSTAVE 

A  convincing  argument. 

SALOMON 

Have  I  your  assent  then.  Your  Highness? 

GUSTAVE 

Well — er — yes — providing  of  course  your  daughter  will  consent. 

SALOMON 

Won't  she,  though! 

(Jacob  and  Charlotte  return  from  their  garden  promenade.) 

CHAMBERLAIN 
{announcing) 
Luncheon  is  served. 

GUSTAVE 

{to  Charlotte) 
Baroness,  your  arm,  pray.     {They  turn  to  the  exit,) 


96  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

SALOMON 

{radiant J  to  Nathan) 
Here  is  where  we  lead  and  competition  can't  follow  1 

NATHAN 

It  will  follow — be  sure  of  that!' 

CURTAIN, 


ACT  III. 

Another  room  in  Frau  Gudula's  mansion.  To  the  right  an 
ample  writing-desk.  A  portrait  of  old  Meyer  Amschel  on  the 
wall.    Deep  windows  with  a  view  upon  the  garden  in  the  rear. 

GuDULA  and  Charlotte  at  the  breakfast-table,  which  is  cleared 
by  Rose,  who  leaves  presently. 

GUDULA 

Didst  like  the  good  cheer,  lassie? 

CHARLOTTE 

A  capital  breakfast,  Grannie.  The  other  day  at  court  I  ate  but 
little. 

GUDULA 

Didn't  you  feel  at  ease  ? 

CHARLOTTE 

Oh,  I  felt  stared  at!  I  know  the  feeling  from  our  official  dinners 
at  Vienna.  You  are  being  criticized  all  the  time — the  way  you 
dress — your  table  manners — everything  you  say;  they  sit  there 
stiffly — are  very  polite — and  wait  for  the  first  faux  pas  from 
the  banker's  daughter.    When  at  last  it  comes 

GUDULA 

Does  it? 

CHARLOTTE 

It  is  quite  a  relief.    The  critics  feel  contented  and  gay. 

GUDULA 

At  our  expense.  Well,  let  them.  We  can  think  what  we  like  of 
them.  Folks  that  don't  belong  together  should  be  kept  apart. 
Those  grand  folks  are  unlike  ourselves. 

97 


98  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

CHARLOTTE 

The  difference  isn't  so  big,  Grannie.  They  have  their  etiquette — 
and  we  have  ours.  Only  with  us  it  is  named  differently.  Both 
sets  are  unfree.  Only  you,  Grannie,  are  sensible  enough  to  go 
your  own  way. 

GUDULA 

I  am  an  old  woman  and  have  nothing  to  lose. 

CHARLOTTE 

As  for  the  Duke — there  are  no  restraints  for  him.  He  takes  every 
hurdle  at  a  jump. 

GUDULA 
Did  he  pay  you  much  attention? 

CHARLOTTE 

He  took  me  down  to  lunch. 

GUDULA 

What  had  he  to  tell  ? 

CHARLOTTE 

He  just  told  funny  stories  under  his  breath — ^good  ones — like  one 
of  our  people. 

GUDULA 

I  can't  abide  those  everlasting  funny  stories — not  among  our  own 
folk  either. 

CHARLOTTE 

The  Duke  has  the  unconstraint  of  an  impudent  street  urchin. 
Withal  he  is  very  young  for  all  his  worldly  ways. 

GUDULA 
Did  you  like  him? 

CHARLOTTE 
( indifferently  ) 
Rather.    You  will  like  him,  too. 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  99 

GUDULA 

I  won't  get  the  chance. 

CHARLOTTE 

But  Grannie,  he  is  coming  to-day  to  see  you. 

GUDULA 

I  can't  make  up  my  mind  to  it. 

CHARLOTTE 

Why  not?  The  Landgrave  of  Hesse  and  others  of  the  same  rank 
have  been  here  often  enough. 

GUDULA 

Mind,  child:  they  sat  at  table,  ate,  drank,  called  my  Amschel 
"dear  friend,"  pinned  decorations  to  his  coat,  but  their  errand 
was  known  for  all  that:  they  came  to  borrow  money.  And 
further,  they  were  old  men ;  a  young  prince  never  came  to  this 
house. 

{Enter  SALOMON^  in  high  spirits.) 

SALOMON 

Mother!  This  is  a  great  day  for  us! — I  hope  everything  has  been 
put  into  befitting  shape? 

GUDULA 

What  would  you  have  me  put  into  shape  ? 

SALOMON 

The  house — for  the  reception  of  our  visitors! 

GUDULA 
{roughly) 
My  house  is  in  order.    Whosoever  comes  to  see  me,  will  find  me 
as  I  always  am. 

SALOMON 
(  offended) 
Are  you  aware  who  is  coming?    Oh,  nobody  in  particular— only 
the  Duke  of  Taunus  and  the  Prince  of  Klausthal. 


100  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

GUDULA 
{as  above) 
What's  their  will  with  me?    I  am  not  on  exhibition. 

SALOMON 

The  royalties  desire  to  know  you  and  our  family  scat. 

GUDULA 

I  know  better.  Let  them  go  to  the  Fahrgass,  to  Amschel's  house, 
a  little  farther  down  the  lane — that's  where  they'll  find  the 
money. 

SALOMON 

The  business  must  be  settled  here — in  my  father's  lucky  house. 

GUDULA 
{smiling) 
The  Herr  Baron  is  perhaps  pleased  to  be  superstitious? 

SALOMON 

{laughing) 
He  takes  after  his  mother.     Let  me  be,  I  will  see  to  everything. 
I  only  ask  of  you  to  keep  old  Rose  out  of  sight  to-day. 

GUDULA 

Stuff  and  nonsense — everything  in  my  house  remains  at  the  old 
footing.    I  am  too  old  to  learn  the  custom  of  the  court. 

SALOMON 

Say  what  you  will.  Mother,  you  will  brighten  up  sure  enougk 
before  the  day  is  over.  Well,  and  you,  Lottie?  {Patting  her.) 
Feeling  bright?  That's  right.  Only  you  might  have  put  on 
a  finer  dress,  with  your  little  neck  free  to  wear  this  set  af 
stones.     {Hands  her  an  etui.) 

CHARLOTTE 

Why,  these  are  diamonds,  father! 

GUDULA 

Since  when  have  you  become  so  free-handed,  Salomon?  I  don't 
recognize  you  any  more. 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  101 

SALOMON 

Nothing  too  costly  for  my  Lottie ! 

CHARLOTTE 

{toying  with  the  set) 
Father — I  really  think  you  want  me  to  do  something  for  you. 

SALOMON 

On  the  contrary,  my  child,  on  the  contrary — I  mean  to  do  some- 
thing for  you.     Go  and  put  on  your  finery. 

CHARLOTTE 
Juf  Wiedersehn!     {Off.) 

SALOMON 

A  good-looking  lass  is  a  first-rate  investment. 

GUDULA 

She  has  sense  as  well  as  good  looks. 

SALOMON 

{gleefully  rubbing  his  hands) 
Plenty  of  sense — any  amount  of  sense. 

GUDULA 

You  are  in  such  high  spirits  the  day — did  you  do  a  good  stroke  of 
business  ? 

SALOMON 

Prepared  one,  Mother.  I  have  been  sitting  up  with  Nathan  until 
deep  into  the  night  to  figure  things  out.  That's  better  for  my 
health  than  a  nerve  cure.  After  such  a  go  at  figures  I  always 
feel  as  fine  as  a  fiddle.  It's  a  pleasure  to  do  team-work  with 
Nathan.     He  has  father's  head  upon  his  shoulders. 

GUDULA 

Why  don't  you  call  Jacob  in  on  such  occasions  to  teach  him? 

SALOMON 

There  is  too  much  of  other  matter  on  his  mind.  He  hasn't  sobered 
down  as  yet  sufficiently  for  business.  Anyway,  I  meant  to  have 
a  word  with  you  about  the  lad.    Why  is  he  out  of  spirits? 


102  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

GUDULA 

I  have  my  own  ideas  about  that. 

SALOMON 

The  other  day  at  court  he  had  not  one  word  to  say,  sitting  there 
as  if  in  an  extreme  of  embarrassment,  and  admitting  thereby 
that  he  doesn't  belong — a  witless  conduct  that  reflects  upon  all 
of  us. 

GUDULA 

Young  people  have  their  moods.    He  is  keeping  his  own  counsel. 
{Enter  Carl.) 

CARL 

How  d'ye,  Mother?  (Nods  to  Salomon.)  I  am  afraid  my  stay 
is  drawing  to  an  end.    I  must  return. 

SALOMON 

Are  you  so  hotly  bent  on  airing  your  title  at  Rome  and  Naples? 

CARL 

The  idea!  I  am  returning  on  urgent  business.  There  has  been 
another  dispatch  urging  expedition  about  that  Piedmontese  loan. 

SALOMON 

I  told  you  once  before:  we  don't  do  business  with  Piedmont.  I 
pledged  my  word  to  Metternich  and  Gentz  to  withhold  sup- 
plies in  that  quarter. 

GUDULA 

(to  Carl) 
Cannot  you  stay  a  day  or  two?    Maybe  you  don't  fancy  the  old 
town  any  longer. 

carl 
On  the  contrary,  Frankfort  is  fine — I  have  a  loathing  for  Naples. 
If  only  I  could  stay  in  Germany. 

SALOMON 

Why  not  go  to  Berlin  ? 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  103 

CARL 

There  arc  no  earning  chances  among  those  rustics. 

GUDULA 

Haven't  you  one  of  your  young  men  there  representing  you? 

SALOMON 

{indifferently) 
Aye,  a  certain  Bleichroeder — a  promising  young  fellow. 

{Enter  Amschel  and  Jacob.) 

AMSCHEL 

Excuse  our  being  late,  but  we  had  a  constant  flow  of  visitors — 
the  whole  town  is  talking  about  our  new  title.  We  have  been 
simply  overwhelmed  with  congratulations.     Ask  Jacob. 

JACOB 

To  be  sure,  they  sounded  now  and  then  a  little  suspicious.  Only 
in  Jew's  Lane  they  rang  true. 

AMSCHEL 

They  all  feel  ennobled  with  us.  Shouldn't  wonder  if  the  entire 
Lane  were  to  embroider  a  coronet  upon  their  linen. 

GUDULA 

Well,  little  Jacob,  how  did  you  like  It  at  the  Duke's  the  other  day? 

JACOB 

I  liked  the  court  well  enough,  but  hardly  the  errand  that  brought 
us  there. 

SALOMON 

You  can't  but  admit  that  the  Duke  received  us  on  a  footing  of 
equality. 

AMSCHEL 

The  Duke  is  very  nice — pity  he  isn't  a  Jew. 
{Enter  Nathan.) 

SALOMON 

Well — everything  arranged? 


104  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

NATHAN 

I  have  drawn  up  the  settlements  with  the  Duke  on  the  lines  wc 
discussed  last  night — there  they  are. 

AMSCHEL 

You  might  have  dictated  them  at  my  counting-room. 

NATHAN 

wAnd  let  a  stranger  gain  an  insight  into  our  secrets?  Certainly 
not.  The  money  is  ready  at  hand,  A  million  florins  as  an 
initial  payment  in  ready  cash,  the  balance  to  be  paid  at  the 
successive  terms  agreed  on. 

AMSCHEL 
Why  in  cash? 

SALOMON 

To  make  an  impression. 

NATHAN 

Your  bank-messenger  must  cart  it  to  the  house  and  we'll  pile  it 
up  on  the  table 

SALOMON 

Like  a  Christmas  gift. 

GUDULA 

Children,  if  you  must  talk  business,  perhaps  I  had  better  leave  you. 

SALOMON 
Stay,  mother,  with  the  business  part  of  this  affair  we  are  nearly 
through,  and  as  regards  the  rest,  we  must  have  your  opinion. 

NATHAN 
This  night  we  have  gone  minutely  into  the  Duke's  financial  posi- 
tion, with  the  surprising  result  that  we  find  it  more  satisfactory 
than  we  supposed  possible. 

AMSCHEL 

Governing  is  always  a  lucrative  pursuit,  but  these  people  don*t  un- 
derstand their  business. 


THE  FIVE  FRJNKFORTERS  105 

SALOMON 

Only  let  me  take  charge  and  watch  the  profits  grow! 

NATHAN 

The  coxintry  is  rich  in  natural  resources.  With  orderly  manage- 
ment, our  loan  is  safe.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  our  risk  is  con- 
fined to  the  amount  of  the  first  payment.  By  way  of  recom- 
pense, the  Duke  must  give  us  the  monopoly  of  salt  and  coal- 
mining throughout  his  territories.  There  are  big  possibilities 
in  that. 

AMSCHEL 

Well — and  how  about  Lottie? 

SALOMON 

The  Duke  will  call  to-day  to  ask  her  hand  in  marriage. 

AMSCHEL 

I  can't  as  yet  believe  it. 

NATHAN 

You  may.    He  said  "Yes"  in  my  presence. 

GUDULA 

(frightened) 

Children — children !    I  am  afraid  there  is  no  bliss  in  such  a  union. 

SALOMON 

Well,  Mother,  did  you  consider  the  matter  over  night? 

GUDULA 

It  wouldn't  let  me  sleep  at  night.  Whenever  at  some  turn  of 
affairs  I  am  at  my  wits'  end,  I  ask  myself:  what  would  my 
Amschel  have  done  about  it?  This  is  the  first  time  my  dead 
husband,  your  father,  does  not  make  answer. — Amschel,  you 
are  my  oldest,  tell  me  what  your  father  selig  would  have  said 
about  it? 

AMSCHEL 

Truth  to  tell,  Mother,  I  don't  know.  I  can't  get  the  matter  to 
rights  myself.  There  is  that  religious  difficulty.  Will  she 
kavc  to  be  baptized? 


106  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

SALOMON 

Did  you  think  of  him  as  a  convert  ? 

AMSCHEL 

Are  you  seriously  considering  it? 

SALOMON 

Well,  in  the  case  of  a  young  girl — besides,  one  may  turn  Christian 
for  any  number  of  reasons.  Some  do  it  to  enter  government 
service,  others  for  the  sake  of  a  marriage 

AMSCHEL 

Or  from  genuine  conviction. 

SALOMON  ( 

To  be  sure — one  might  even  get  baptized  because  of  genuine  con- 
viction. 

AMSCHEL 

Salomon,  have  done  with,  your  levities!  At  any  rate,  I  won't  at- 
tend the  wedding.  I  won't  sit  down  at  table  with  relatives 
that  snicker  at  my  dietary  strictness. 

GUDULA 
Neither  will  I.     The  wedding  will  have  to  be  celebrated  in  a 
church,  and  I  won't  set  foot  into  a  church. 

CARL 

I  think  you  make  too  much  of  the  religious  difficulty — no  one  can 
hinder  her  to  remain  at  heart  a  loyal  Jewess.  Think  of  the 
social  prestige  that  such  a  match  will  give  us. 

NATHAN 
The  international  sensation  it  is  bound  to  create  will  greatly  benefit 
us  in  business.    We  may  congratulate  ourselves. 

SALOMON 
fVas  heisst  "we"}    //^  may  congratulate  himself.    Just  watch  mc 
develop  the  duchy. 


^ 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  107 

GUDULA 

You  can't  undo  it — these  people  are  our  betters. 

SALOMON 

Are  they? 

GUDULA 

And  you,  little  Jacob — have  you  nothing  to  say? 

JACOB 

I  am  against  it — but  my  opinion  naturally  carries  little  weight. 

AMSCHEL 

Give  mouth  to  your  objection — you  know  our  custom.  Each  must 
say  his  mind  at  every  important  turn.    We  five  belong  together. 

JACOB 

We  v.'on't  very  long,  if  this  wedding  is  to  take  place.  We  pros- 
pered because  we  five  were  as  one.  You  are  about  to  bring  a 
stranger  into  our  councils. 

GUDULA 

And  now  I  know  what  my  Amschel  selig  would  have  said — he 
spoke  through  the  mouth  of  his  youngest.  Bring  the  strange 
kinship  into  our  house,  and  our  good  fortune  will  be  at  an  end. 

SALOMON 

All  wrong,  I  say !  Our  father  was  a  bigger  man  than  you  conceive 
him.  He  struck  out  for  new  roads  as  a  merchant,  I  am  doing 
the  same  in  family  affairs. 

JACOB 

Our  father  didn't  look  upon  his  daughters  as  objects  of  speculation. 

SALOMON 

Judicious — he  couldn't.    They  didn't  have  the  looks. 

JACOB 
It's  a  pity  about  Lottie. 

SALOMON 

Lottie  3^ou  needn't  pity — she  has  more  sense  than  you — enough,  at 


108  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

any  rate,  to  know  her  own  mind — you  can't  have  any  voice  in 
this,  being  a  bachelor.  What  do  you  know  about  the  married 
state?  He  should  bethink  himself  of  a  suitable  match.  {To 
Jacob:)  To  do  big  business  in  Paris,  you  must  have  a  do- 
mestic establishment,  receive  in  grand  style 

CARL 

Don't  hurry  him,  children — I  wished  /  had  had  time  for  a  sober 
second  thought! 

AMSCHEL 

Who  told  you  to  marry  a  marchioness  ? 

CARL 

I  needed  social  standing.    Had  I  known  the  event,  I  should  have 
thought  better  of  it. 

JACOB 

And  yet  the  same  sort  of  match  will  do  you  for  Lottie? 

CARL 
It's  different  with  women.    My  wife  is  happy.    I  am  not. 

AMSCHEL 

Jacob,  I  know  a  wife  for  you. 

JACOB 
{smiling) 
Much  obliged,  Amschel;  I  mean  to  do  the  choosing  myself. 

CARL 

That's  just  what  I  did.     I  tell  you,  you  had  better  let  some  one 
else  attend  to  that. 

JACOB 

But  tastes  in  beauty  differ. 

AMSCHEL 

Beautiful  or  not,  one  gets  used  to  most  any  woman  in  wedlock. 

SALOMON 

But  to  a  beautiful  one  more  quickly. 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  109 

ROSE 

(^announcing) 
The  Prince  of  Klausthal. 

SALOMON 
Well,  what  did  I  tell  you?     {Goes  to  meet  him.) 

AMSCHEL 

The  first  of  our  royal  relatives  to  call. 

GUDULA 

I  can't  abide  that  turn  of  things  with  Lottie.    Don't  talk  to  me — 
I'll  see  no  one. 

{Enter  the  Prince,  with  Salomon.) 

SALOMON 

Welcome,  Your  Highness. 

PRINCE 

{very  civilly) 
Good  morning,  gentlemen. 

SALOMON 

We  are  grateful  to  your  Serenity  for  the  honor  of  your  visit. 

PRINCE 

{with  cool  civility) 
Not  at  all.    I  came  on  business  purely. 

CARL 

Delighted  to  have  you  with  us  on  any  terms.     Be  seated,  pray. 

PRINCE 

{remains  standing,  very  civilly) 
I  am  much  obliged  to  you. 

AMSCHEL 
{bursting  into  a  little  pause  of  embarrassment) 
How  does  Your  Highness  like  Frankfort? 


no  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

PRINCE 

{as  above) 
I  know  the  town  of  old — saving,  of  course,  this  quarter  of  the  city. 

{An  awkward  silence.) 
My  young  cousin  Gustave  of  Taunus  has  advised  me  of — er — of 

the  errand  that  will  lead  him  to  your  house  this  day. 

SALOMON 

May  we  know  how  Your  Highness  received  the  news? 

PRINCE 

I  had  no  time  to  discuss  it  with  the  Duke. 

SALOMON 

Won't  Your  Highness  state  the  view  you  are  taking  of  this  matter? 

PRINCE 

{very  civilly) 
I  have  no  reason  to  withhold  my  opinion  from  my  prospective  rela- 
tives. 

SALOMON 

We  are  all  anxious  to  hear  it. 

PRINCE 

What  the  libertarians  of  France  endeavored  to  accomplish  with  the 
guillotine,  Messieurs  the  Bankers  of  Frankfort  are  attempting 
with  the  coupon  scissors.  I  own  that  I  am  opposed  to  level- 
ing efforts,  whatever  the  chosen  tool  of  equalization  may  be. 
{Embarrassment.) 

AMSCHEL  r 

Won't  Your  Highness  at  any  rate  be  seated? 

PRINCE 

{as  above) 
Much  obliged,  dear  Baron,  but  I  have  very  little  to  add.     Under 
the  circumstances,  I  think  it  proper  to  terminate  our  business 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  111 

relations.  I  am  about  to  make  my  home  abroad.  You  will 
therefore  please  transmit  to  Paris  the  deposits  I  entrusted  to 
your  care. 

SALOMON 

It  shall  be  done  by  special  messenger,  since  this  is  Your  Highness' 
pleasure. 

AMSCHEL 

Is  Your  Highness  dissatisfied  with  our  management  of  your  affairs? 

PRINCE 

Oh,  no.  But  as  by  my  cousin's  marriage  I  shall  have  the  honor  of 
being  distantly  connected  with  your  family,  I  consider  it  in- 
convenient that  you  should  continue  the  administration  of  my 
finances.     I  could  not  burden  my  relatives — however  distant. 

AMSCHEL 

I  am  very  sorry.    Your  Highness  may  possibly  reconsider 


SALOMON 

{on  a  level  of  politeness  with  the  Prince) 
My  dear  brother,  I  must  beg  of  you  not  to  attempt  to  influence 
His  Highness'  decisions.  Your  Highness  have  spoken  in  antic- 
ipation of  my  own  views.  I  am  very  far  from  wishing  to 
derive  any  advantages  in  the  way  of  business  through  my 
daughter's  marriage. 

prince 
{to  Salomon) 
I  am  glad  we  are  in  accord.  {Including  the  other  brothers  in  his 
address.)  Gentlemen,  the  Emperor  has  been  pleased  to  elevate 
you  to  a  barony.  German  noblemen,  according  to  my  way  of 
thinking,  have  no  business  to  be  in  business. — I  regret  not  hav- 
ing met  the  ladies  of  your  family.  May  I  request  you  to  con- 
vey to  them  my  compliments — and  permit  me  to  wish  you 
good-day  ? 

(Salomon  bows  in  silence.) 


112  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

PRINCE 
{bowing) 
Gentlemen,  I  have  the  honor  to  take  my  leave. 

CARL 

Your  Highness  will  permit  me  to  conduct  you  to  the  door. 

PRINCE 

I  am  greatly  obliged  to  you.     {Exeunt  both.) 

AMSCHEL 

In  such  manner  I  never  lost  a  client. 

SALOMON 

The  old  fool — he  will  yet  be  sorry  for  it,  no  matter  where  he 
means  to  bank  his  money! 

NATHAN 

Don't  call  any  names — I  can  see  that  he  impressed  you. 

SALOMON 

To  be  sure  he  did — that's  why  I  seek  to  ally  myself  with  his  sort. 

JACOB 

Our  future  kinsfolk,  it  seems,  don't  take  to  you  very  kindly. 

SALOMON 

The  Duke  does — and  as  for  his  cousin,  what  do  I  care! 

JACOB 

He  has  been  asked  his  opinion,  and  he  has  told  it  with  irreproach- 
able politeness. 

NATHAN 

He  was  as  civil  as  an  executioner  beheading  a  king. 

AMSCHEL 
His  opinion  is  of  no  consequence,  but  the  sudden  withdrawal  of 
his  funds  does  not  exactly  suit  our  convenience. 

AMSCHEL 

/ill  the  same,  the  capital  must  be  raised  at  once,  it  must  reach  Paris 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  113 

before  him.     He  must  be  shown  that  we  don't  care  for  his 
money.     Depend  upon  it,  he  will  seek  us  again. 

{Enter  Carl^  doing  the  honors  to  GuSTAVE  and  Fehrenberg.) 

CARL 

My  brothers,  to  be  sure,  are  sharing  my  elation  over  this  honor. 

GUSTAVE 

Good  morning,  gentlemen.     {All  bow  to  the  Duke.) 

SALOMON 

Your  Highness,  I  trust,  will  pardon  our  failure  to  meet  you  on 
the  road — we  expected  the  distinction  of  your  visit  somewhat 
later  in  the  day. 

GUSTAVE 

The  excuses  are  all  mine  for  arriving  before  the  time  appointed, 
but  I  was  impatient  with  curiosity  to  see  your  family  mansion. 

SALOMON 

The  house  is  not  half  bad,  but  the  Lane 


GUSTAVE 

Oh,  pray,  Herr  Baron,  the  Lane  too  is  an  old  tradition — {shaking 
hands)  two  traditions  have  met  at  last. 

CARL 
It  is  very  complaisant  of  Your  Highness  to  call  our  dingy  Lane  a 
tradition. 

GUSTAVE 
Baron,  in  this  antiquated  Lane,  where  one  receives  the  impression 
at  first  of  time  standing  still,  the  most  modern  of  contemporary 
mankind  have  their  home. 

AMSCHEL 

Won't  Your  Highness  pray  be  seated? 

GUSTAVE 

Gladly,  my  dear  Consul.     {Moves  as  if  about  to  sit  down.) 


114  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

FEHRENBERG 

{offering  five  little  boxes  which  he  takes  from  out  of  his 
coat- flaps) 
Won't  Your  Highness  first ? 

GUSTAVE 

Well  reminded,  my  dear  Fehrenberg.  Meine  Herrn,  I  herewith 
create  you  Knights  of  my  Domestic  Order  and  take  pleasure  in 
presenting  you  with  the  insignia.  {He  pins  a  cross  upon  Am- 
SCHEl's  breast-front.)  Thereon,  my  dear  Consul,  you  will 
find  the  inscription:  "Pour  la  vertue  militaire."  I  chose  this 
decoration  on  purpose.  You  have  evidenced  in  a  high  degree 
the  military  virtue  of  courage — you  have  offered  to  lend  me 
money.  Upon  you,  my  dear  Salomon,  I  bestow  the  Grand 
Cordon  of  the  Order,  because  you  gave  proof  the  other  day  of 
a  courage  bordering  upon  downright  audacity.  {Decorates 
him  with  the  grand  cordon — a  cross  upon  a  big  red  sash.) 
In  strictest  confidence,  now,  I  call  your  attention  to  an  im- 
portant detail:  the  sash  is  of  sufficient  width  to  serve  in  lieu 
of  a  waistcoat — an  advantage  which  I  myself  turn  to  good 
account  during  the  hot  season. 

SALOMON 

Your  Highness,  in  my  own  name  and  in  the  name  of  my  brothers, 

I  thank  you.     My  courage  may  be  greater  than  you  think. 
(Enter  Gudula  and  Charlotte.) 

GUDULA 

(perfectly  sure-footed  and  ladylike) 
Welcome,  Duke  Gustave,  under  my  roof. 

GUSTAVE 

Baroness,  I  regret  having  missed  the  privilege  of  seeing  you  under 
my  own  the  other  day.  (Kissing  her  hand.)  I  desire  your 
better  acquaintance,  Baroness. 

GUDULA 

(turning  to  Fehrenberg) 
Good  morning  to  you,  Count  Fehrenberg. 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  115 


My  dear  Baroness! 


GUSTAVE 

{to  Charlotte) 

CHARLOTTE 

{curtseying) 


Your  Highness! 

GUSTAVE 

I  should  like  to  pay  court  to  you  now  in  my  best  manner,  but  my 
conversational  resources  have  a  knack  of  always  failing  when 
my  sentiments  are  getting  serious. 

CHARLOTTE 

Perhaps  you  overestimate  the  seriousness  of  your  sentiments? 

SALOMON 

Highness,  I  would  propose  that  we  transact  business  first. 

GUSTAVE 

You  shall  fix  the  order  of  the  day  to  please  yourself. 

SALOMON 

If  I  may  trouble  Your  Highness  to  come  into  the  adjoining  room, 
we  will  there  discuss  the  settlements  and  sign.  A  first  pay- 
ment of  a  million,  in  gold  and  hundred-florin  notes,  lies  on  the 
table.  As  soon  as  our  treaty  is  signed,  our  bank  messenger  will 
convey  the  money  to  your  treasury.     {Opens  the  door.) 

GUSTAVE 
{in  the  act  of  leaving) 
Thoughtful  and  generous,  I  call  that.     {Exeunt  Gustave,  Fehr- 
ENBERG  and  the  four  BROTHERS.    Jacob  remains  standing  on 
the  threshold.) 

GUDULA 
Well,  little  Jacob,  why  don't  you  join  your  brothers?    At  such 
weighty  business  you  ought  to  be  right  with  them. 

JACOB 

I  will  have  no  lot  nor  part  in  it. 


116  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

GUDULA 

It's  not  to  my  liking  either,  little  Jacob,  to  have  such  folks  in  my 
house — and  yet  I  give  them  their  due.  {To  Charlotte:) 
If  only  I  knew  what  to  put  before  the  Duke.  What  do  you 
give? 

CHARLOTTE 

Such  people  are  fond  of  champagne. 

GUDULA 
That's  too  rich  for  me.     Just  before  that  sort  I  won't  have  any 
display.    They  shall  have  some  of  my  Amschel's  old  Burgundy. 
{Off.) 

CHARLOTTE 

Uncle  Jacob,  I  don't  rightly  understand  why  you  oppose  that 
negotiation  with  the  Duke. 

JACOB 

It  may  be  wrong  of  me  to  tell,  but  I  can't  leave  you  in  darkness 
any  longer.    It  is  your  fate  they  are  sealing  behind  that  door. 

CHARLOTTE 

My  fate!  Do  you  think  that  can  be  settled  without  calling  me 
in  council? 

JACOB 

In  requital  of  the  services  rendered  him  by  your  father,  the  Duke 
will  ask  your  hand  to-day  in  marriage. 

CHARLOTTE 

I  thank  you  for  your  frankness.  Uncle  Jacob.  I  have  suspected 
that  something  of  that  order  would  come  to  pass,  but  not  so 
soon  as  all  that. 

JACOB 

{bitterly) 
Your  father  insists  upon  promptness  in  all  matters  of  business. 

CHARLOTTE 

{gravely) 

Jacob,  I  noticed  the  other  day  already  that  you  are  incensed  against 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  117 

my  father.  I  must  urge  you  now  not  to  say  anything  to  his 
disparagement.  He  loves  me  in  his  own  way  and  means  to 
do  the  best  he  can  for  me. 

JACOB 

You  are  pleased  with  the  Duke,  then? 

CHARLOTTE 

Certainly.  He  is  clever.  He  takes  a  superior  view  of  men  and 
things.  Behind  his  irony  there  is  a  hearty  cheerfulness.  He  is 
a  handsome  young  man  and  none  the  worse  for  knowing  it. 
If  his  dominions  are  not  extensive,  he  is  a  rightful  sovereign 
for  all  that;  his  wife  will  wear  a  crown. 

JACOB 

Now  I  know  how  you  will  receive  his  suit. 

CHARLOTTE 

If  you  do  you  know  more  than  I  do  myself.  I  have  pictured  my 
future  betrothed  differently.  Quieter,  more  dreamy.  Less 
irony — ^more  sentiment.  No  retinue  of  courtiers,  a  life  with- 
out a  grand  mise-en-scene  and  without  beholders.  I  should  like 
to  give — all  my  soul — freely — and  that's  impossible  with  the 
Duke.  (Abruptly.)  Tell  me,  Uncle  Jacob,  why  do  you  ob- 
ject to  the  Duke?    Don't  you  like  him? 

JACOB 

Perhaps  it's  only  my  envy.  He  is  as  sure  of  life-^as  I  am  not. 
You  are  right,  Charlotte,  nothing  speaks  against  him — and 
that's  just  why  I  am  unhappy. 

CHARLOTTE 

Little  Jacob,  is  that  all  that  ails  you  ? 

JACOB 

Oh,  nothing  ails  me. 

CHARLOTTE 

Quite  right — think  how  many  are  envying  you. 


118  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

JACOB 

I  have  no  worry — to  be  sure.  And  yet,  I  did  not  choose  my  call- 
ing. The  life  of  a  banker  is  a  life — I  don't  know  how  to  ex- 
press myself — a  life  without  color,  without  music. 

CHARLOTTE 

{smiling) 
Music!    I  see — ^you  would  like  to  emulate  your  friend  Rossini. 

JACOB 

Rossini !  When  I  am  sitting  at  play,  I  would  gladly  change  places 
with  every  little  fiddler  in  the  orchestra  who  knows  his  music 
and  nothing  else  in  the  world. 

CHARLOTTE 

Perhaps  the  fiddler  would  not  be  disinclined  to  close  the  bargain. 
These  be  strange  longings  for  a  banker  of  the  house  of  Roths- 
child. 

JACOB 

Laugh,  Lottie,  laugh  at  me!  It  stimulates  me — gives  me  coura^. 
{Struggling  for  expression.)  Oh,  Lottie — if  only  I  could  tell 
you 

CHARLOTTE 
{moved) 
Don't  speak,  little  Jacob,  say  nothing.     I  know  now. 

JACOB 

(kissing  her  hands) 
Lottie ! 

CHARLOTTE 

(caressing  his  hair) 
You  are  so  young — so  young! 

(Enter J  from  the  adjoining  room,  the  DuKE>  Fehrenbehg,  the 
four  Brothers,  a  little  later  Gudula.) 

SALOMON 

(to  GuSTAVE  Upon  entering) 
This  seals  our  compact  then  with  Your  Highness. 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  119 

GUSTAVE 

With  our  signatures  affixed  to  the  written  instrument,  it  does. 
{Pockets  a  paper.) 

SALOMON 

The  money  will  be  paid  into  your  treasury  by  special  messenger. 

GUSTAVE 

I  can  guarantee  he  won't  have  to  turn  back  for  lack  of  room  in  my 
vaults. 

GUDULA 

I  hope  the  gentlemen  will  do  me  the  honor  to  take  a  glass  of  wine 

on  the  garden-grounds. 
(GuSTAVE  accepts  with  a  bow.) 

GUDULA 

Your  Highness,  could  you  make  up  your  mind  to  a  little  chat 
with  an  old  woman?  Will  you  stop  here  with  me — alone  for 
a  few  minutes?     I  ask  it  as  a  favor. 

GUSTAVE 

You  confer  one,  Madam. 

GUDULA 

Salomon,  be  good  enough  to  precede  us  to  the  garden  with  Count 
Fehrenberg  and  the  others.  {Exeunt,  leaving  the  DuKE  alone 
with  Frau  Gudula.) 

GUDULA 

Now,  will  you  sit  here — quite  close  to  me — and  let  me  look  into 
your  face?  Forget  for  a  few  minutes  that  I  am  an  old  Jewess 
and  you  a  reigning  prince. 

GUSTAVE 

I  am  doing  that  often  enough — and  gladly,  believe  me,  Baroness. 


120  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

GUDULA 

I  must  have  speech  with  you  about  Charlotte.  Don't  let  my  blunder- 
ing give  you  offense.  I  am  doing  the  office  of  grandmother 
for  the  first  time  to-day,  and  in  such  a  grave  business  too. 
That  frightens  me.  Mind,  Duke  Gustave,  my  son  Salomon 
sees  in  this  affair  no  more  than  he  w^ishes  to  see,  my  good  little 
Lottie  is  an  orphan,  and  I  must  stand  her  in  her  mother's  stead. 
I  must  make  bold  to  ask  questions.  Tell  me,  Duke  Gustave, 
doesn't  this  match  with  my  granddaughter  strike  you  as  brought 
about  in  a  venturesome  way? 

GUSTAVE 

Granted,  Baroness,  kut  it  is  just  this  element  of  adventure  that 
delights  me  in  my  alliance  with  your  beautiful  grandchild. 

GUDULA 
I  don't  follow  you. 

GUSTAVE 

I  won't  account  for  my  future  by  graded  rule  as  an  old  privy 
councillor  will  account  for  his  career.  A  traditional  alliance 
between  the  high-born  is  vieux  jeu.  The  world  is  tired  of  the 
old  game  and  so  am  I — I  mean  to  play  a  new  one. 

GUDULA 

It's  hazardous.  Besides,  we  are  such  a  straight-lived  set.  What  a 
life  you  must  have  led! 

GUSTAVE 

It  was  a  life  of  adventure  from  the  beginning.  In  my  boyhood  the 
thronelets  of  my  relatives  shook  as  during  an  earthquake.  One 
day  my  father's  throne  was  put  into  the  big  Corsican  bag. 
We  went  into  exile — to  Vienna.  There  my  father  died.  I 
chose  to  spend  his  money  in  Paris.  Just  when  I  had  run 
through  with  my  fortune,  Napoleon,  in  a  manner  of  speaking, 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  121 

had  run  through  his.  The  Empire  collapsed.  I  was  rein- 
stated into  my  duchy — and  my  revenues.  The  revenues  are 
gone,  and  my  duchy  would  follow  suit,  if  your  sons  had  not 
interceded.  You  perceive  now  that  I  am  used  to  looking  upon 
life  as  an  adventure. 

GUDULA 

Duke  Gustave,  you  are  playing  with  life  at  hazard.    It  turns  my 

head  giddy  to  think  of  it.     I  am  fearing  for  my  grandchild. 

Matrimony  is  a  serious  matter.     I  may  say  that — I  have  lived 

happily  with  my  Meyer  Amschel  in  quite  another  walk  of  life. 

GUSTAVE 

Baroness,  I  pray  you  rest  assured 

GUDULA 

(roughly) 
Don't  call  me  Baroness,  Duke  Gustave,  it's  too  much  like  a  mum- 
mery. 

GUSTAVE 

Madam,  the  Emperor 

GUDULA 

Stuff  and  nonsense — the  Emperor  can't  make  me  a  noblewoman 
at  seventy-one  year^  of  age. 

GUSTAVE 

And  yet,  Madam,  your  nobility  may  be  of  the  oldest. 

GUDULA 

You  might  save  your  compliments  for  my  Lottie.  With  her  they 
may  avail  you,  perhaps.  With  me  they  won't.  I  won't  play 
Providence  in  so  complex  a  matter.  Let  my  grandchild  decide 
for  herself. 


122  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

{Enter  CHARLOTTE  with  Salomon,  later  on  Nathan,  Amschel 
and  Jacob.) 

SALOMON 

Now  your  little  tete-a-tete  is  at  an  end. 

GUDULA 
It  was  not  a  satisfactory  one  to  either  of  us,  I  am  afraid. 

gustaxt: 
Herr  Baron,  you  are  familiar  with  the  nature  of  my  present  errand. 
I  have  the  honor  to  ask  for  the  hand  of  your  daughter  in  mar- 
riage. 

SALOMON 

Supremely  honored.    As  a  matter  of  course,  you  are  welcome.  Em- 
brace your  betrothed,  pray. 

charlotte 
Without  my  assent?     Father,  you  misconceive  me.     I  feel  deeply 
humiliated. 

SALOMON 

Humiliated !'    Why  ? 

charlotte 
Because  I  have  been  offered  in  marriage. 

SALOMON 

These  are  mere  formalities.     Prearranged  matches  are  customary 
in  our  circles. 

charlotte 
A  detestable  custom.    What  must  Duke  Gustave  think  of  me? 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  123 

GUSTAVE 

But,  dearest  Baroness,  it's  the  same  all  over  in  our  set.  Only 
with  us  it  is  called  politics. 

CHARLOTTE 

Duke  Gustave,  I  am  doing  true  service  to  both  of  us  in  saying  no. 

SALOMON 
What  do  you  mean? 

CHARLOTTE 

Do  you  know  what  I  am  feeling?  Father,  do  you  believe  that  I 
could  be  happy  without  a  home?  For  I  could  never  find  a 
home  in  that  castle,  with  all  the  servants  laughing  at  me  be- 
hind my  back!  And  the  portraits  on  the  wall  staring  at  me 
and  seeming  to  say:  If  you  please — you  have  come  here  too 
soon — wait  another  century  or  so!  No,  if  I  marry — {taking 
jlight  to  her  grandmother) — Grannie,  why  don't  you  help  me? 
(GuDULA  talks  to  her  soothingly.  In  the  meantime,  Amschfl 
and  Jacob  have  joined  the  company.  Jacob  takes  an  armchair 
in  the  corner,) 

SALOMON 

Your  Highness  will  pardon  this  untoward  incident.  I  guarantee 
that  my  daughter  will  presently  alter  her  resolution.  In  our 
house  children  have  to  mind  their  parents. 

GUDULA 

Have  they  ?  Then  you  will  have  the  goodness  to  mind  me  and  to 
let  the  girl  have  her  way  in  this!  Duke  Gustave,  I  am  sure 
you  will  understand. 

GUSTAVE 

Candidly,  I  have  by  no  means  felt  sure  of  the  Baroness.  {To 
Salomon:)  Under  the  circumstances,  what  becomes  of  our 
agreement? 


U4  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

SALOMON 
{perplexed) 
JD»nnerwetterJ — the  money  has  already  been  paid  into  your  trcat- 
Mry. 

GUSTAVE 

Of  course,  it  is  at  your  disposition — that  is  to  say,  if  there  is  any- 
thing left.  I  can't  conceal  from  you  that  a  good  many  people 
kave  been  waiting  its  arrival — let  me  return  you  your  contract. 

GUDULA 

(imperiously) 
Yon  keep  your  own.     Highness,  be  glad  you  have  it.     If  I  know 
these  gentlemen,  my  sons,  at  all,  they  have  taken  uncommon 
good  care  not  to  be  the  losers  in  the  bargain. 

AMSCHEL 

Quite  right,  Mother.  We  never  go  back  on  our  signature.  Come 
now,  Your  Highness,  and  let  us  calmly  discuss  the  situation. 

{Goes  off  with  the  DuKE.) 

SALOMON 

Incredible  J  To  be  overreached  by  such  a  young  fool  of  a  spend- 
thrift— I  say,  there  must  be  a  special  Providence  in  these  mat- 
ters. 

GUDULA 
Perhaps  he  is  brainier  than  you  think  him. 

SALOMON 

H  that's  so,  then  I  regret  all  the  more  that  I  can't  have  him  for 
a  son-in-law.  {Turning  to  Charlotte.)  There  is  more  to 
this  than  appears  on  the  surface.  We  are  left  to  ourselves 
MOW,  state  your  reasons. 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  125 

CHARLOTTE 

{half  turning  to  Jacob^  who,  rising,  follows  her  words 
with  perceptible  emotion) 

You  know  them.  I'll  have  no  sneering  courtier,  but  a  humaa 
being  with  a  heart,  one  of  my  own  kind — one  to  whom  I  can 
be  more  than  to  the  Duke. 

SALOMON 

{puzzled) 
Yes? 

CHARLOTTE 

Yes,  father,  one  to  whom  I  shall  be  his  strength  and  joy  ia  liie, 
and  live  with  him  as  grandfather  lived  with  Grannie. 

SALOMON 

I  clearly  see  you  have  already  made  some  choice. 


I  have. 
Then  tell  me. 
Not  yet. 


CHARLOTTE 


SALOMON 


CHARLOTTE 


SALOMON 

Then  there  must  be  something  wrong!    What  is  he? 

CHARLOTTE 

A  merchant. 

SALOMON 

{disdainfully) 
Every  cap-dealer  calls  himself  a  merchant  nowadays.    Wkat's  bis 
line. 


126  THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS 

CHARLOTTE 

Banking. 

SALOMON 

I  see.     Then  I'll  probably  know  him. 

CHARLOTTE 

{pleasantly) 
You  know  him  well. 

SALOMON 

Has  he  any  money? 

CHARLOTTE 

As  much  as  you  have. 

SALOMON 

You  overestimate  that  Great  Unknown.     Has  he  a  bank  of  his 
own? 

CHARLOTTE 

As  large  an  establishment  as  yours. 

SALOMON 

Tut,  tut!    Does  he  come  from  a  good  family? 

CHARLOTTE 

As  good  a  family  as  ours. 

SALOMON 
{in  a  semi-whisper) 
Is  he  a  Jew? 

CHARLOTTE 

Yes. 


THE  FIVE  FRANKFORTERS  127 

SALOMON 

To  be  sure.    Who  is  he,  then? 

CHARLOTTE 

If  you  must  know — he  who  stands  speechless  in  that  corner  yonder. 

Your  brother  Jacob! 

(Jacob  folds  Charlotte  in  his  embrace.) 

SALOMON 

Excellent!     And  that's  what  I  have  been  working  and  hoarding 
for — for  my  own  brother! 

GUDULA 

Salomon,  dear,  don't  you  say  no. 

SALOMON 

I  am  not  saying  no.    Only  I  could  have  arranged  that  more  sim- 
ply— and  less  expensively. 

GUDULA 

Salomon,  what  would  you  have?     Is  your  brother's,  your  child's 
happiness  nothing?    Cannot  you  be  contented? 

SALOMON 

{softening  into  a  broad  smile) 
Yes,  Mother  dear — I  am. 

CURTAIN. 


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UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 


A    001  366  353    9 


